Gold Coast Titans launch Audi Charity Ball

by NRL

The seventh annual Gold Coast Titans Audi Charity Ball was launched at the Audi Centre in Southport in conjunction with the big ticket auction item for the night, the Audi Q3.

This year's Grand Stage Auction will feature the all new and highly anticipated suburban designed Audi Q3 which has been kindly donated by Audi Centre Gold Coast for this year's Charity Ball.

This year there are four charitable arms that stand to benefit from the monies raised with Sporting Wheelies & Disabled Association of Queensland, The Salvation Army, Titans 4 Tomorrow and the Gold Coast Titans Community Foundation, with the club hoping to raise more than $100,000 with this year's efforts.

Public Relations Director for the Salvation Army, Patrick Walsh has been closely affiliated with the Titans through its ongoing support of the Red Shield appeal and said the funds raised from the Charity Ball would be of great assistance.

"It is definitely going to benefit us, any support we can get is important as there is a lot of people in need on the Gold Coast and any additional funds certainly make life easier for those people in need,'' said Patrick.

"We have a number of initiatives supporting people through drug and alcohol rehabilitation, those that can't meet the day to day pressures of life and then there is Crisis centre at Southport which cares for those that are homeless."

The Jetstar Gold Coast Wheelchair Rugby Titans been representing Queensland in Titans colours for the past two years and were equally as excited to be involved in this year's event under the banner of the Sporting Wheelies & Disabled Association.

Team Captain, Benaiah Newton has always been a lover of RUGBY League and said that being involved with the organisation meant a lot to the team.

"We go out there and we play in Titans shorts, we travel in Titans gear, it makes a difference to your attitude and professionalism when you are out there and training and you know that you are representing a great organisation like the Titans,'' said Benaiah.

"To take that stress of where are we going to get the cash together for our equipment and training costs and just the day to day process of being an athlete and training and performing, is huge."

Not only do these two separate entities stand to benefit from the proceeds of the fundraising efforts, so too do two of the Titans Community programs with the Titans Community Foundation and the Titans 4 Tomorrow program which former player Preston Campbell is now an ambassador for.

"This Charity Ball means a lot to the community and the surrounding areas and not just the Gold Coast but up north and western Queensland and Audi have been a big part of that, their support has been unbelievable,'' said Campbell.

"Times are tough and I think that's where the Gold Coast Titans are great, they have always been a community club and have always offered assistance where they can and with the Charity Ball the funds and support they get from the Gold Coast community shows how great the human race is."

Overall, the club's charity and community fundraising programs which include the annual Charity Ball has given back more than $1 million dollars to charities and community organisations in this region over the past seven years.

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