Adelaide Football Club players, led by captain Taylor Walker, are helping to tackle asthma this season.

Walker and his teammates, through the AFL Players Association’s Players Care Program, have donated $5,000 to the Asthma Foundation SA to help its ‘Tackling Asthma’ campaign.

Through the AFL Players Association (AFLPA) Program, every AFL-listed player donates $50 of each match payment to support those in need in the community.

Across the season, half of this goes to the AFLPA’s official charity partner Ladder to help tackle youth homelessness, with the other half donated to each team’s chosen charity. For the Crows, this season that is the Asthma Foundation SA.

Having suffered from asthma as a young child, Walker understands how debilitating it can be and the importance of managing the condition.

With the help of the Crows Children’s Foundation, he took some time out of training this week to give a special tour to a group from the Asthma Foundation and to spend time with some young fans with asthma.

Asthma Foundation SA Chief Executive David Bedson said that the support from the Adelaide Football Club players and from a range of high profile South Australian companies in ‘Tackling Asthma’ had been extraordinary.  

According to Mr Bedson, South Australia records the highest asthma hospitalization rates in the country and more than half of all asthma related hospitalisations are for children between 0-14 years of age.

“There is much work to be done to support families and children in better managing and understanding their condition,” he said.

“The Tackling Asthma campaign invites individuals and companies to sponsor $2 for every tackle the Adelaide Crows team makes throughout the season.

“Already more than $10,000 has been raised to support the one in nine South Australians children who suffer from asthma.”

The Crows Children’s Foundation is also supporting Tackling Asthma in 2017.

For campaign details, tackle stats, and the updated ‘Tackle Meter’ visit: www.asthmaaustralia.org.au

For more information about the AFLPA’s Players Care Program click here.