When the first KM Charity Cricket Game took place in 2018, Kian Mantle's family and friends were still coming to terms with the loss of the much loved local. Today, his memory lives on and his life is celebrated in an annual cricket match that's raised $22,000 for research into brain cancer.
Last Sunday, for the third year in a row, a match between Kian's Wakehurst Cricket Club and a celebrity team representing Manly Warringah DCC played a T20 game at Manly Oval. The cricket was entertaining for spectators who also enjoyed plenty of beer, soft drink and sausage sandwiches.
One of the celebs was Manly captain Daly Cherry-Evans, who told this reporter that he's "not much of a cricketer". That he instead took time to sell raffle tickets and talk to members of the crowd, was very much appreciated by the Mantle family.
Other notable northern beaches figures included Mayor Michael Regan, Manly stars Reuben Garrick and Brad Parker (who went to school with Kian), Matty J (from The Bachelor), Cam Merchant (Married at First Sight), Callum Mills, Tom Papley and Harry Cunningham from Sydney Swans, radio host Matt De Groot, and James Bracey from Channel Nine.
Brain cancer is diagnosed in approximately 2,000 people a year
The day is designed to honour Kian’s memory, and just as importantly, raise awareness of and fund research into a disease which afflicts around two thousand Australians every year, according to Brain Cancer Mission Australia.
While mortality rates have dropped in most forms of cancer, the survival rate of brain cancer has remained low at 22%, an indication that efforts like the charity match are still much needed.
On the field the celebrity team made 150 before the Wakehurst boys fell bravely short. Mayor Regan made many tumbling attempts to catch the ball without always knowing success. Dashing Matty J dashed about and impressed the crowd with his good looks and "unequalled skills on the pitch", according to one onlooker, indeed it was me.
Both teams showed fantastic effort and sportsmanship in the third annual KM Charity match at Manly Oval.
Regardless of cricketing ability, all those who spoke with The Tribune expressed great willingness to get behind the event and its message.
Eagles centre Parker said that the opportunity to "honour Kian’s memory by coming together with old mates and support the Mantle family and a very important cause is really special".
Daly Cherry-Evans: bad at cricket, awesome at raffles.
Cherry-Evans, who did not know the Mantle family before the fixture, said it was important to recognise issues like brain cancer which have such a large impact on so many.
"It's about being a supportive member of the community. I'm extremely appreciative for the opportunities my football career has given me. So it's really easy to show up and give support to an important event like this however I can,” said Cherry-Evans.
Raffle ticket sales were healthy throughout the day, as were selfies .
Brad Parker and Tribune reporter Liam McCarthy. Parker said that he found it "incredibly rewarding" to throw support behind the KM Charity day.
Mayor Regan, meanwhile, said it important for him to be physically present at such an event.
“Anything we can do to bring everyone in the community together and really be there for each other in moments like this, it's so important. And especially when it’s through cricket, I love it.”
Nineteen-year-old Cohen Mantle, younger brother of Kian and a former schoolmate of this reporter, is, to me, the true embodiment of strength, decency and a great haircut, among other things.
Boys on the hill: Mates of Kian Mantle's supporting the KM Charity day.
When asked what this event means to him, Cohen's first words were for his brother: “It's nice and comforting to celebrate Kian,” he said.
“It unifies all sorts of people. And we all get to come together and share a game of cricket.
"I don’t even know everyone here, which just shows you how important it is to people.
"And it's really good to have that extra support from the community and to meet new people.”
Cohen Mantle, 19, enjoying a beer at Manly Oval
For mine, the event highlighted a number of things which, as a community, we can all appreciate.
Seeing Cohen with his family and friends whom he’d known for years, coming together in honour of Kian, anyone could tell you how special it was to be there.
It reinforced that members of a community will always put time and effort into important causes. Even professional athletes and media figures who in this case did not the Mantle family. The message was, We have your back. No effort is too small to help people, be it donating money to a cause or just showing up to pay respects.
This KM charity day, as always, was a fantastic success and an important reminder about those who matter to us and what we can do to be a support network for our community and the individuals within it.
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