Chris Mayne says he and his Freo teammates are eager to honour the Starlight Purple Haze tradition at Patersons Stadium this Friday night.
 
Fremantle will play undefeated Essendon in the 11th instalment of the game, which is the culmination of weeks of charity work conducted by the club to raise money for the Starlight Children’s Foundation to help improve the lives of seriously ill and hospitalised children.
 
To date, the club has raised more than $430,000, including a record total of $80,101.60 in 2012.
 
A Starlight Ambassador at Freo, Mayne said Starlight Purple Haze was a great tradition and he couldn’t wait for Friday to arrive.
 
“To get all our fans out there dressed in purple and get behind us will be awesome,” he said.
 
Now called the ‘king of the kids’ by many in the media, Mayne became a Starlight ambassador after his first year at the club in 2008.
 
The children’s charity is closely involved with Princess Margaret Hospital, a place Mayne got to knowwell growing up.
 
He was born with a cleft palate, which is a split or opening in the roof of the mouth.
 
“While I wasn’t directly involved with Starlight, PMH were excellent for me in their support up to the age of 13,” he said.
 
“To have that opportunity to give something back and to go see the kids and hang out with them is amazing.
 
“It gives you such a great feeling and an appreciation of the position you’re in.”
 
The 24-year-old said the best way to represent Starlight and the fans on Friday night was to play the wayFreo plays best.
 
“That’s giving great effort, 22 blokes playing their role,” he said.
 
“It’s Friday night football. Everyone in Australia is watching you. 
 
“It’s a big stage and that’s what we’re getting ourselves accustomed to.”
 
The Starlight Purple Haze Game is almost a sell-out. To secure your ticket to this blockbuster click here