Brett Stewart is hoping the design of a special ‘snake’ pendant will help raise vital funds to continue his work in helping children with Type 1 diabetes.
The dynamic Manly Sea Eagles full-back nick-named ‘Snake’ has managed to control his diabetes throughout his magnificent playing career and is very passionate about running his ‘Kids with Diabetes’ camps at Royal Far West, Manly.
Funded by the Sea Eagles Foundation, the camps are for kids with Type1 Diabetes, both local and country kids ranging from 9 – 16 years of age.
The four day program includes information sessions, recreation activities and an introduction to new diabetes management techniques. The children are identified through the club’s partnership with Royal Far West and the camps are facilitated by clinical staff from Royal Far West.
“One of the messages I share with the kids is to ‘never give up’. I like to let them know they are not alone. It (diabetes) can get on top of you some days,’’ Stewart said.
“There are a lot of people with the same illness but it shouldn’t stop you living your life or achieving the things you want to do.”
Stewart said the idea for the ‘snake’ pendant began with discussions with Sea Eagles Foundation Community Manager, Deanne Lees, who he founded the camps with.
Only 240 ‘snake’ pendants are available and were designed by Justin Schwarz from Quorra Jewellery.
The pendants sell for $190 each and are now on sale through the Sea Eagles Online Store. The pendant comes with a pre-printed thank you card signed by Stewart.
“It has my name and number on the back, so I am pretty proud of that,’’ Stewart said.
“All proceeds will go to the foundation to help educate the kids. I think it is a pretty nice piece of jewellery.”
Twin brothers Ryan and Jacob Lincoln, along with their mother, Racheal, were on hand at Narrabeen to help Stewart launch the ‘snake’ pendant. The boys live in Stewart’s home town of Berkeley and have attended the camps at Manly.
Check out the exclusive interview with Brett Stewart in the video above.
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