For first-year Fremantle player Matthew Uebergang, an afternoon in the Ronald McDonald House on Tuesday afternoon was a special moment.

Uebergang spoke at the 22^nd annual AJ Diamond Club Bravery Awards at Ronald McDonald House in Nedlands. The ceremony was held in partnership with Ronald McDonald House Charities to honour six young children who have shown great courage in hospital wards across WA. The 21-year old noted the important role the organisation played in helping families deal with illness.

“Ronald McDonald House offers a comfortable retreat for parents going through the stress of looking after their seriously ill children," Uebergang said.

“It’s great to see the support that (Ronlad McDonald) House has to offer.”

Uebergang also said it was important that the Fremantle Football Club – which has hosted the awards since its inception in 1995 – continued to support the community.

“The more stuff we can do to help out the community, the better,” he said.

“I enjoy being part of it.”

Fellow first-year player Darcy Tucker said the awards provided him with perspective on how comparatively trivial AFL can be.

“Obviously football is just a game,” Tucker said.

“Sometimes we all get caught up in it a bit too much.

“All of the stresses of football and everything that comes with it is nothing compared to what these sick children and their families go through.

“The Bravery Awards – it’s very good to be a part of it.”

Each of Fremantle’s six first-year players were invited to award each recipient with a certificate, while Ronald McDonald House ambassadors Cam Sutcliffe, Hayden Crozier and Connor Blakely each presented gifts to families of the recipients.

Tucker honoured Eva Collings, a girl almost three years of age who in April was diagnosed with a brain tumour.

Eva suffered two months of unsteadiness, falling over, vomiting and eventually a seizure.

She has since undergone brain surgery and chemotherapy and regularly visits hospital, but still keeps up with her brothers, despite feeling sick.

Uebergang recognised three-year-old Junior Faumuina, who was only two weeks old when his parents noticed he wasn’t digesting his milk.

Junior’s skin turned yellow and jaundice. Unable to have scans in Kalgoorlie, the family rushed Junior to Perth where he was admitted to Princess Margaret Hospital.

Tucker exceeds own expectations

Heartbreakingly, it was determined that Junior would need a liver transplant and would have to receive treatment for the rest of his life.

His family, who were hundreds of kilometres from home, took up a residence in the Ronald McDonald House for more than a year and a half.

Junior has faced all challenges with gusto and surprised his medical team, with a scar the only indication of his surgery.

Sam Collins recalled the story of Sonny Poutu, 16, who dreamt of becoming a professional boxer.

However, after suffering a stroke to the right side of his brain, Sonny was left with little movement on the left side of his body and was later diagnosed with Moyamoya disease – a condition caused by blocked arteries.

Through a positive attitude and rehabilitation, Sonny regained movement to the left side of his body, but struggles with fatigue and cognitive problem-solving.

He will undergo surgery next week to prevent future strokes, but is no longer allowed to play contact sports and will never box.

Sonny has shown amazing drive and determination to stay calm and persist with the many requirements of his recovery.

Harley Balic spoke of eight-year-old Ned Dale, who took a fall while riding on his scooter in his hometown of Kalgoorlie.

The Dale family, who suspected something wasn’t right, took Ned to hospital.

Not long after, he was diagnosed with Wilms’ tumour, which affected both of his kidneys.

After 18 weeks of chemotherapy, Ned underwent surgery to remove the kidneys, spent four days in intensive care, and continued with chemotherapy and radiation thereafter.

Ned must wait two years before he can receive a kidney transplant. Until then, he undergoes 12 hours of dialysis every night.

Upon returning home to Kalgoorlie, having temporarily relocated for Ned’s surgery, the family were informed that Ned had another tumour. He will undergo more surgery on Thursday.

However, Ned never appears bothered or overwhelmed by the effects of the medicine and treatment he has undergone.

Ryan Nyhuis honoured seven-year-old Lucas Snow, who started feeling unwell on a much-anticipated family holiday.

On their return to Perth, Lucas’ mum took him to see a doctor, where he was in turn referred to Princess Margaret hospital.

That evening, Lucas was admitted to hospital and immediately began chemotherapy treatment for leukaemia.

Lucas has since endured 14 general anaesthetics, weekly IV chemotherapy, ongoing oral medication, blood transfusions, regular blood tests and other injections.

But for him, the biggest challenge is not going home to his farm more than 200km away. Lucas has also had to start at a school with 450 kids – nine times larger than his old school. He didn’t know any of the students, and had lost all his hair.

Despite these challenges, Lucas has demonstrated extreme resilience, a positive attitude and a cheeky sense of humour.