Grey was joined by fellow first year recruits, Michael Apeness, Alex Pearce, Jacob Ballard and Michael Wood for the 2014 AJ Diamond Club Bravery Awards, where 12 young people were recognised for their courage shown while spending time in hospital during the past year.
“As footballers we put our heads over the ball, but for (the recipients) it’s a life or death situation, so there’s stuff that they go through that gets to our hearts,” he said.
During the ceremony, Grey detailed the challenges of three recipients, the youngest being two-and-a-half-year-old Tremaine Bennell.
Tremaine has spent most of his time in hospital fighting a range of infections and due to his long history of ear infections Tremaine has partial hearing loss.
“It puts life into perspective, we live the footy life every single day so it’s nice to take a backward step and get to know people that have had trouble with their lives,” Grey said.
“It’s really inspiring for us as footballers, not only to learn about their stories but to also feel like we’re apart of them.
“The players’ definitely took a lot out of it.”
In attendance at the ceremony were the nurses and doctors who nominated the 12 recipients.
The health professionals work within the South Metropolitan Health Service and have treated the brave youngsters during their time spent on the wards of either Fremantle Hospital, Rockingham General Hospital, Royal Perth Hospital or Armadale-Kelmscott Memorial Hospital.
Now in it’s 20th year, Fremantle CEO Steve Rosich said the awards were a highlight of his year.
“To the young people in the room today, our playing group often refer to their trademarks of courage and resilience out on the football field, but it is a whole different ball game when it comes to the sort of courage and resilience that you have displayed,” Rosich said.
“Our recruits will learn a great deal from your inspiring stories.
“To the families of these amazing youngsters, I applaud your strength and courage.”
Another great story of courage is that of Hugo Pike.
The 16-year-old spent his 16th birthday in an ambulance and hospital bed, after enduring one of the worst cases of a perforated appendix his surgeon had ever seen.
“I came home from school on Friday and thought it was just gastro but on the Saturday night I doubled over in pain and couldn’t handle it, and a couple of hours later I was taken to hospital,’ Hugo said.
“It was pretty shocking, I spent 11 days in hospital and lost a lot of weight.”
Hugo said he was honoured to be awarded an AJ Diamond Club Bravery Award and said he enjoyed being part of the ceremony.
“It was a really fun and I really enjoyed myself, it was good to hear everyone else’s stories, it makes you appreciate what you have when you hear what everyone else has gone through.”
Along with the other 11 recipients and their families, Hugo and his family will be attending the Fremantle v Brisbane game this Saturday night at Patersons Stadium.
Hugo was the lucky winner of the ‘Front Row Fan’ seats and will be watching the game from some of the best seats in the stadium.
“It will be great fun, I am really looking forward to it.”
