Five friends recently put their bodies on the line in a rugby league game to tackle breast cancer – and their next challenge is to climb the EU’s highest mountain.
The fearless five formed the nucleus of a seven-man Make a Pink Difference team that took on a Malta Rugby League invitational side featuring three internationals last Friday.
Make a Pink Difference is composed of Gabriel Felice, 24, Steve Ross Galea, 24, Sean Cutajar, 23, Timothy Borg, 27, and Malta Rugby League international, Shan Francois Hussain, 20.
The match kicked off their breast cancer awareness campaign that will culminate in their attempt to summit the 4,810-metre Mt Blanc in September.
Four of the team were complete novices at rugby league, a hugely physical sport. They were joined by another debutant, Nik Stagno Navarra, 29.
At the final whistle, they were bruised but smiling after a 40-16 loss.
The game was watched and supported by Irish Ambassador Jim Hennessy, whose teenage son, Dillon, played for the Make a Pink Difference team.
Also represented on the sidelines was the US Embassy through the Ambassador’s husband, Gerard Winstanley.
Special guest Sandy Muscat, from the Europa Donna Malta breast care support group, kicked off the game.
The five Make a Pink Difference challengers are firm friends who have all had a family member affected by some form of cancer.
“A few years ago, a close family member of mine suffered from breast cancer and I have been meaning to do something to raise awareness for a long time. When I suggested to the group that we should climb Mt Blanc to raise breast cancer awareness they immediately accepted,” said Mr Felice.
The group will fly to Italy on August 23 and initially climb two ‘smaller’ mountains, both higher than 4,000 metres.
On September 1, they will attempt to traverse Mt Blanc and, if all goes to plan, they should return to Malta on September 4.
Besides warm clothing, they will need ice axes, crampons, rope and, most importantly, complete concentration to complete the climb.
Training at the moment consists of individual programmes and weekly group treks lasting four to five hours.
None of the team has ever climbed a mountain but they are unfazed.
After all, most of them had not played rugby before either.
“We now really understand the saying that ‘rugby league is the greatest game’. It was great preparation for Mt Blanc; it helped strengthen us up both physically and mentally,” the group said.
They hope to especially raise awareness among young people through fun events, social media and their infectious can-do attitude.
To show its support, the Malta Rugby League has organised a Pink Week that has the backing of clubs as far afield as Australia and the US.
Visit www.facebook.com/makeapinkdifference for more information about the campaign and future events.
Search for Make a Pink Difference vs Malta Rugby League on You Tube to watch a video report on the match.