FOOTBALL media personality Liam Pickering's efforts to help a seriously ill Ballarat boy have been the ticket to making a dream come true.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Young Tigers' fan Blake Dridan, who has been battling a blood disorder for almost four years, will watch the AFL Grand Final from Medallion Club seats at the MCG on Saturday afternoon.
Pickering and co-host Craig Hutchison called the family live on-air during the grand final edition of their show Off the Bench, simulcast through 3BA in Ballarat, and urged Blake to go out in the front yard.
The 12-year-old found the tickets under the wipers of a Toyota rav4, on loan to help Blake and his dad Luke get to the game and home safely.
Pickering last week launched a fundraising drive for the family, which has been juggling treatment for Blake in Melbourne. In late July, The Courier reported the family's ute, used for transporting Blake to hospital, had been stolen and torched on what was his mum's birthday. Dad Luke Dridan realised the ute was gone when he had been heading out to buy a birthday cake.
Toyota has also offered support, via Off the Bench, in sending a Toyota Kluger to use the next 12 months to help the family get back on its feet. Fuel, servicing and insurance is included.
Mr Dridan messaged The Courier from the MCG to say Hutchison and Pickering were "just brilliant".
"Wow...this is such a kind gesture and makes a huge difference to us in the short and long run," Mr Dridan said on Off the Bench.
Blake and Luke were overcome with emotion on-air. Blake could be heard laughing and cheering in the background during the segment after earlier telling the hosts he was feeling "not the best".
Richmond welcomed Blake to training at Punt Road ahead of the Tigers' preliminary final against Geelong. Blake had been set to go to the game before falling sick and returning to hospital.
Sydney Swans premiership coach Paul Roos and Australian cricket coach Justin Langer both send messages of support to Blake late this week.
"This is a family that doesn't just need luck," Pickering told The Courier this week. "This is a family that needs all our support.
"...Footy and the sporting world's been great at helping people. When you can find the right people it can make a big difference - given Hutchy (co-host Craig Hutchison) and I are both country boys and this is a country show, we really wanted to get behind this."
Blake has been fighting to overcome aplastic anaemia, the same severe blood disorder as Maddie Riewoldt, who is the sister of St Kilda great Nick Riewoldt. Maddie died four years ago with bone marrow failure.
In March 2017, aged 10, Blake underwent a bone marrow transplant.
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE
Have you signed up to The Courier's variety of news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in Ballarat.
