Tributes, donations flow for ‘Sumo’ Narula, Cairns Saints football runner after cancer battle

An adored volunteer, water runner and supporter of the Cairns Saints footy club has sadly lost a short battle with cancer.

A tight-knit Cairns footy community is mourning the loss of their “beloved” water runner and club volunteer, who lost his short battle with cancer.

Sumant ‘Sumo’ Narula tragically died on Monday after being diagnosed with aggressive lymphoma in his stomach late last year.

The cancer later spread to his brain before the father of three had his leg amputated due to an infection.

Mr Narula was affectionately known as the “hydration specialist” for the girls and women’s teams at Cairns Saints Football Club, which his wife Anita and daughter Reshan played for.

Sumant 'Sumo' Narula, a beloved water runner at Cairns Saints Football Club, tragically lost his battle with cancer on Monday. Picture: Supplied

He was also named the 2023 Club Person of the Year and was described by the club as “an amazing, humble and genuinely nice guy” in a tribute shared on social media.

Kale Triplett and Brittany Gliddon launched a fundraiser for their mate two months ago and pledged to take part in the 30km Cairns50 running event in early April.

Mr Triplett, who coached the senior Saints women’s team last year, said Sumo was “such a selfless guy”.

Sumant 'Sumo' Narula, a beloved water runner at Cairns Saints Football Club, has tragically lost his battle with cancer. Here he is pictured with Brittany Gliddon and Kale Triplett, who are organising a fundraiser to support Sumo's family. Picture: Supplied

“He just wanted to be involved and help out. He was like a dad to all the girls, cracking jokes. You’d always have a laugh with him,” he said.

“He was always a friendly face, no matter what. Always a little bright light at the footy club,” former player Ms Gliddon said.

The pair said they were blown away when the fundraiser cracked $16,000, days before Mr Narula lost his battle.

Sumant 'Sumo' Narula, a beloved water runner at Cairns Saints Football Club, tragically lost his battle with cancer on Monday. Here he is pictured with his wife Anita Narula and children, Reshan and Sanjay. Picture: Supplied

“Britt and I had been planning to do the run the whole time and then when we found out about the cancer, we thought it’d just be a nice touch to help out and try to raise some money for them,” Mr Triplett said.

“We first thought maybe like three to five grand would be a really good accomplishment … and it’s been blown out of the water since then.

“The family are so grateful, Anita is absolutely gobsmacked with how generous everyone’s been.”

Several other Cairns Saints footy players and friends have also promised to take part in the 30km run in honour of Mr Narula.

You can donate through GoFundMe.

[e-mail]

Originally published as Tributes, donations flow for ‘Sumo’ Narula, Cairns Saints football runner after cancer battle