Canberra Raiders join fundraising efforts to buy Kato Ottio’s mum a house in Papua New Guinea

CANBERRA Raiders have joined the appeal for Kato Ottio by tapping into their fanbase to help make their former player’s dream to buy his mum a house in PNG a reality.

Canberra Raiders’ former player Kato Ottio.

CANBERRA Raiders have joined the appeal for Kato Ottio by tapping into their fanbase to help make their former player’s dream a reality.

Ottio was training in Papua New Guinea with the PNG Hunters in January when he collapsed at training and was taken to Port Moresby Hospital where he later died of heat exhaustion.

Click here to donate to the Kato Ottio Memorial fund!

Kato Ottio with his family in PNG.

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The Raiders playing squad has rallied behind the cause, with Sia Soliola helping to get the support going for the Kato Ottio Memorial fund - a GoFundMe campaign looking to raise $40,000 to buy his mother a home in Papua New Guinea.

Canberra Raiders’ former player Kato Ottio.

“Kato was one of the most humble and wonderful people you could ever meet and his recent passing has had a huge impact on the club and his former teammates,” Soliola said.

“We’ve decided to appeal directly to Raiders fans to help us make Kato’s dream a reality.”

Raiders CEO Don Furner said the Fund would be directed towards Kato’s family in PNG and encouraged the Raiders family to support the cause.

“Kato’s passing was a tragic way to end the life of a young man with a huge future,” Furner said. “The Raiders family is appealing for your support to assist in raising money to support his family.”

Originally published as Canberra Raiders join fundraising efforts to buy Kato Ottio’s mum a house in Papua New Guinea