How to go to war against bone marrow failure syndrome with Blake’s Army

The father of Blake Dridan and founder of Blake’s Army has issued a call to arms for Australians to help end bone marrow failure syndrome.

Blake Dridan

When cricket legend Justin Langer heard about my then 11-year-old boy Blake’s five-year battle with bone marrow failure syndrome, he initiated something greater than all of us could ever imagine — a war on the devastating and heartbreaking disease.

“Bone marrow failure has declared war on our young, and mark my words, war is what it is going to get,” Langer said.

Sydney Swans legend and Blake’s Army director Paul Roos took the threat further by demanding: “Australia, it’s time for us all to just do something.”

Last week, a group of Australian sporting legends came together in support of Blake as he battles severe aplastic anaemia, one of the many bone marrow failure syndromes devastating the lives of young people around the world.

Among the stars who lent their support were AFL legend Nick Riewoldt, whose sister, Maddie, lost her battle with aplastic anaemia in 2015, St Kilda great Fraser Gehrig, Paul Roos, former Opals captain Lauren Jackson and Australian Open champion Scott Draper.

Five time Australian winter Olympic representative and gold medal winning freestyle aerial skier Lydia Lassila said Blake’s fight against the disease had inspired the nation.

“Now it’s our turn to inspire you and all sufferers of bone marrow failure,” Lassila said.

But, it was the generosity and commitment of Paul Roos who provided the critical resource to deliver the Blake’s Army Ltd. vision — the Blake’s Army Leadership Program.

The Blake’s Army Ltd. vision is to raise much needed funds for bone marrow failure research in a way that benefits communities right across Australia, and it is the Blake’s Army Leadership Program that will provide the means to achieve that goal.

Blake with Richmond Tigers player Jack Riewoldt, who is a fierce advocate for fighting bone marrow failure syndrome with Blake’s Army.

BLAKE’S ARMY LEADERSHIP PROGRAM

Last Week, Paul Roos very humbly suggested that he felt it was his role to support Blake and Blake’s Army Ltd. by using his public profile.

But, the Blake’s Army Leadership Program proves to us that Roos is providing massive support, far beyond that of a smile and wave.

Roos’ commitment to Blake’s Army has been profound, and he is now generously providing his time to share his incredible expertise and knowledge.

The Blake’s Army Leadership Program has been designed to recognise, reward and above all else, help some of Australia’s most critical front line workers and volunteers by sharing a formula that has served Roos very well throughout his life.

The Blake’s Army Leadership Program is about ‘Learning Together, Working Together and Celebrating Together’.

The program consists of:

1. Six learning based interactive webinars

2. Three team based fundraising activities

3. One end of year awards & gala fundraising night

The topics covered in the six interactive webinars are:

1. Leadership

2. Team culture

3. High performance

4. Managing controlled change

5. Resilience

6. Mental & physical fitness

Roos will be hosting each of the six webinars and will be supported by a panel of guests including the likes of Gillon McLachlan, Craig Tiley, Justin Langer, Lydia Lassila, Aaron Finch, Tim Tszyu, Nick Maxwell, Pat Rafter, Luke Fuller, Fraser Gehrig, Liam Pickering and many more.

With personalities such as these driving Blake’s Army, a bit of friendly competition between teams was never going to be far away.

As part of the program, participants will be required to undertake three team based fundraising activities.

The fundraising results of each team will determine the teams that take home the end of year awards.

Australian T20 World Cup winning captain Aaron Finch couldn’t be more excited for what the Blake’s Army Leadership Program has to offer, stating: “I believe the Blake’s Army Leadership Program will go down as one of the best initiatives of 2022.”

For more information on the Blake’s Army Leadership Program, please visit: Leadership Program – Blake's Army (blakesarmy.org.au)

Blake with Channel 7 personality Hamish McLachlan, who will be supporting Paul Roos in presenting webinars for the Blake’s Army Leadership Program.

BLAKE’S ARMY RESERVE

As well as raising funds to help find a cure to all bone marrow failure syndromes, Blake’s Army Ltd’s goal is to raise those funds that will benefit Australian communities.

After a lot of deliberation, the Blake’s Army Ltd. executive team have identified eight groups of people supporting communities from right across Australia that they would like to recognise and reward by offering them a free opportunity to participate in the Blake’s Army Leadership Program.

The chosen groups are the backbone of Australia, supporting all of us in our time of need.

The people who have been chosen to participate in 2022’s edition of the Blake’s army Leadership Program are:

1. Australian Volunteer Fire Fighters

2. Volunteer Emergency Service Workers

3. Red Cross Volunteers

4. Salvation Army Volunteers

5. Australian Nurses & Paramedics

6. Indigenous & Remote Australian Support Groups

7. Lions Club Volunteers

8. APEX Australia Volunteers

Those who qualify as one of the above and would like to participate in the program can register by going to https://blakesarmy.org.au/blakes-army-reserve/#register

St Kilda legend Leigh Montagna said: “Throughout my career, I was fortunate enough to be cheered on by some pretty big crowds. Now, through the Blake’s Army Leadership Program, it is Australia’s turn to cheer on our very own true blue heroes!”

For every $2000 donated to Blake’s Army Ltd. (fully tax deductible), one person will be elevated from the Blake’s Army Reserve up to the Blake’s Army Leadership Program.

There is no limit to the amount of people who can register to either the Reserve or the Leadership Program.

Aaron Finch said: “The Blake’s Army Leadership Program is a once in a lifetime opportunity for some very deserving people to work with and learn from some of Australia’s elite performers.”

As Blake’s father I would love to have as many participants as possible, and hope to see at least 1000 people participating.

The more people participating means that the threat of Bone Marrow Failure will be closer to an end.

If Blake’s Army can achieve over 1000 participants, Australian boxing sensation Tim Tszyu said “Bone Marrow Failure, it’s lights out!”

For more information on the Blake’s Army Reserve visit : Blake's Army Reserve – Blake's Army (blakesarmy.org.au)

Blake with Nick Riewoldt, whose sister Maddie tragically passed away from Aplastic Anaemia in 2015, at just 26-years-old.

DONATING TO BLAKE’S ARMY LTD

Fully tax deductible donations can be made to Blake’s Army Ltd. by both Australian business and the general public in three separate ways.

Australian business can donate by:

1. Going to www.blakesarmy.org.au , then clicking on the Business Donations button (or click on this link : https://blakesarmy.org.au/business-support/#businessdonate ) and following the online payment prompts. For tax purposes, a receipt will be emailed to the email address entered when making the donation.

2. Donations can also be made by either online deposit or over the counter at any Bendigo Bank branch. Once a deposit has been made, simply email [e-mail] proof of donation and once confirmed, a receipt will be emailed back to you.

Account details are:

BSB: 633 000
Account: 188 640 353

1. You can request a donation invoice by emailing [e-mail] stating your business name, ABN, email, primary contact name, contact phone number and the amount that you would like to donate. This option is only applicable for donations in excess of $2000.

General Public (Soldier Donations):

General Public donations can be made by:

1. Going to www.blakesarmy.org.au , then clicking on the General Public Soldier Donate button (or click on this link : https://blakesarmy.org.au/general-public-soldier-donations/#soldiersdonate ) and following the online payment prompts. For tax purposes, a receipt will be emailed to the email address entered when making the donation.

When donating, Blake’s Army Ltd. ask that you use the social media sharing buttons to help spread the word and hopefully generate further donations leading to more of the incredible people who register to the Blake’s Army Reserve being elevated to the Blake’s Army Leadership Program.

Blake and Australian cricket coach Justin Langer, another proud supporter of Blake’s Army.

BLAKE’S ARMY – GENERATION NEXT:

As Blake’s Army Ltd. wish to pass on knowledge and equip people with the skills to better themselves, they are offering 100 positions in the Blake’s Army Leadership Program for senior secondary school students (Year 12s) and secondary school teachers.

Ten schools will be invited to participate in the Leadership Program, with each school offered five teacher invitations and five senior student invitations.

How the ten participating schools will be determined rests on the shoulders of those who donate through the Blake’s Army Ltd. website.

When donating through the Blake’s Army Ltd. website, each donor will be asked if they would like to nominate a secondary school to participate in the Blake’s Army Leadership Program.

Schools will then be ranked according to the total amount donated with their school being the nominated school.

So, when donating, be sure to consider nominating a secondary school you think would benefit from participating in the Blake’s Army Leadership Program.

Blake’s Army – Generation Next is open to all secondary schools across Australia.

For more information on Blake’s Army – Generation Next visit: Generation Next – Blake's Army (blakesarmy.org.au)

After reading all of this, Australian cricket star Aaron Finch has but one question to ask of you all: “Australia, who’s with us?”

– Luke Dridan is Blake’s father.