Eight mates, one idea: the boys day that keeps on giving
What began as a few Iggy Park old boys getting together for a Christmas catch-up has grown into an annual, fundraising event for a touching cause.
What started as a catch-up with old school mates has now evolved into a fundraising machine that has raised around $70,000 for three different causes.
Chris Jang said he started an annual catch-up with mates from Ignatius Park College as a way to stay in touch.
“It was coming up to Christmas one year and we thought we’ll go and catch up because we were always seeing each other around, and we’re all like ‘let’s go for a beer or let’s go for a counter meal,’ but we never do,” Mr Jang said.
“And time just passes and gets away from us, and to be honest, I’m sick of catching up with everyone at funerals.”
It started with just eight of them nine years ago, and has grown immensely with more than 250 men coming to the latest annual boys day on the weekend.
“I’ve been doing it for nine years, and there’s been a couple of guys that have been there for the last couple that I haven’t even met before,” Mr Jang said.
“They’ve come up to me and said, ‘hey Jangie, I’m such and such, great event that you’re running mate, I’m finally glad to meet you.’ It’s not about my day, everyone calls it normally the ‘Annual Boys Day’ or ‘Jangie’s Day’, but I don’t look at it as that.”
Three years ago, Mr Jang lost his uncle to motor neurone disease.
Around that time when the annual boys day was on at the Dalrymple Hotel, Mr Jang said that a sporting club was selling raffle tickets for meat trays, raising $6,000 for the club.
He said he thought it was a good opportunity to raise money and put it towards a cause which is close to their hearts.
“So the first year I chose motor neurone disease, and that was for my uncle who passed away, and everyone got on board for that and we raised about $15,000,” Mr Jang said.
“And then last year I jumped on board with Kids Cancer, and raised about $14,000 for them, and then this year we’ve done men’s mental health.
The group raised $44,000 dollars for the Black Dog Institute over the weekend.
Mr Jang said the generosity of everyone involved was mind blowing.
“Honestly, it just gives me chills, it’s so good. I do not have to ask one person to donate,” he said.
“I don’t have to ask for any gifts, my mates just dig deep and give me the best that they can.”
Mr Jang said Steve Neill, manager of the Dalrymple Hotel had been a massive supporter of the event.
“He’s gotten on board with me and honestly, he’s not about money, he’s there to help me fundraise,” Mr Jang said.
“He contributes well, and the Dalrymple Hotel has been really good, I can’t say how good they’ve been to me.”
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Originally published as Eight mates, one idea: the boys day that keeps on giving
