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At a time when the Australian Cricket Captain, Ricky Ponting, has his eyes set firmly on achieving excellence on the field he still manages to devote time, energy and emotion to the plight of thousands of Australian children battling cancer and the families that support them through this difficult period.
As well as doing his best for his country Ponting has an added incentive to score runs in the upcoming npower Ashes Test Series and it all links back to 2004 when the Children's Cancer Institute of Australia for Medical Research (CCIA) invited Ponting and his wife, Rianna, to visit the very special patients in the oncology ward at Sydney Children's Hospital.
The people Ricky and Rianna met that day left an indelible impression on the couple. The dedication shown by the hospital's doctors, nurses and staff; the love and compassion unfalteringly demonstrated by the patients' families; and most importantly the courage of the children who were each facing the biggest challenge of their lives - a challenge bigger than most of us will ever experience.
It quickly became apparent to Ricky and Rianna that if they were able to play a part in easing the burden on these children and their families, then they must do so.
"Following our visit, we sat outside the Children's Hospital and with tears in our eyes made a commitment to one another to do everything possible to improve the lives of children with cancer and their families", said Ponting.
Ricky and Rianna worked tirelessly for five years as ambassadors of the CCIA. Together with the CCIA they raised more than five million dollars to fund vital research into the early detection of relapse in children diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL), the most common cancer in children.
Ricky and Rianna realised that they were in a unique position to do even more to improve the lives of children with cancer, and the prospects of those children who will develop cancer. In an effort to make a real difference, Ricky and Rianna established the Ponting Foundation in 2008.
The Foundation boasts a highly credentialed Board consisting of Chairman Margaret Jackson and fellow Board members, Rianna Ponting, Ian Foote, James Henderson, Ray Horsburgh, Trevor O'Hoy and Stephen Roberts. The Board is responsible for overseeing the development and evolution of the Foundation. Individually and collectively, they bring a broad range of skills and expertise to the Foundation ensuring it is operated and governed with the highest standards of professionalism.
The Foundation's major beneficiaries are CCIA and Redkite. CCIA is the only independent medical research institute in Australia devoted to research into the causes, better treatments, prevention and cure of childhood cancer. Redkite is a unique organisation in that it supports the whole family through the entire journey - from the devastating moment of diagnosis through treatment and beyond.
"The work of the Foundation has become more significant for Rianna and I since Emmy was born last year", said Ponting. "Having a beautiful healthy child of our own has given us an even greater sense of determination and resolve to support the children and families that aren't as fortunate as us."
In its first year of operation the Foundation has concentrated on building a stable administrative and financial base that provides the organisation with the capability of long term growth and sustainability. Generous benefactors have provided the Foundation with the financial support it needs to move to the next phase of fundraising through two major initiatives in the second half of 2009.
Run Ricky Run is the Foundation's first major fundraising initiative that involves appealing to the general public. Launched in May 2009, Run Ricky Run provides Ponting with more reasons than ever before to score runs in the upcoming Ashes Series as the amount of donations depends on how many runs he scores.
"Run Ricky Run provides a direct link between the willingness of the Australian public to donate money to a fantastic cause and my ability to make runs for Australia," Ponting said.
"Every run I score in the Ashes Tests will trigger a donation to one of the Foundation's beneficiaries and 100% of the proceeds raised will be distributed. There's a fair bit riding on me getting runs in England but I wouldn't have it any other way," Ponting added.
Run Ricky Run will receive promotional assistance from Cricket Australia (as part of its Cricket Cares program), a number of major media organisations and through a range of direct initiatives supported by corporate and private partners of the Ponting Foundation.
Readers can help out by visiting the website www.runrickyrun.org and pledging an amount per run or making a fixed donation. All donations of $2 and over made by Australian residents are tax deductable.
Three days before the start of the Second Test at Lords, a major fundraising dinner will be held in aid of the Ponting Foundation at the unique, award winning 'Room by the River' on London's Southbank. Dubbed the 'Ashes To Ashes' dinner, the function will boast an array of current and past cricketing stars as well as celebrities from the wider sports and entertainment industries.
The night will celebrate cricket's oldest and most fiercely contested rivalry and will feature footage from previous Ashes tours, interviews with Ponting and adversaries from past and present Australian and England teams, unique auction items and giveaways.
A limited number of tables are available through event organisers, Essentiallly Group, through its website, www.essentiallygroup.com, or by telephone +44 (0) 20 7820 7000. The event is supported by key partners including Clydesdale, ESPN and BWI.
'Ashes to Ashes' will be a significant night in the life of the Foundation, taking its fundraising efforts on to the international arena and involving a star-studded line up of supporters - a far cry from that important day in 2004 when Ricky and Rianna Ponting stepped into the oncology ward at Sydney Children's Hospital and grasped an opportunity to help fight the battle against childhood cancer.