Barker helps bat for change

Barker boys took on celebrity cricket team in a charity match raising funds for tsunami affected areas of Sri Lanka

There’s nothing like barracking for a cause. Barker College First X1 were batting for change when they took on a star-studded cricket team in a charity match held last week. The game raised funds to provide educational opportunities to young men and women in tsunami affected areas of Sri Lanka.

Ryan Carters’ Batting for Change X1 team, made up of cricketers from the NSW Blues and Sydney Sixers, including Ed Cowan, Nic Maddinson and Nick Larkin, was joined by current Australian Southern Stars Women’s Cricket team player, Alyssa Healy, and Rugby League Legends Brett Kimmorley and Matt Cooper.

The celebrity team is part of Ryan Carters’ philanthropic initiative “Batting for Change”, which combines the excitement of T20 cricket in Australia with a commitment to supporting the education of economically disadvantaged young people in developing cricket-playing nations. Batting for Change directs all funds raised to the LBW Trust (Learning for a Better World), an organisation which counts legend Kumar Sangakarra as its patron, among other cricketing greats.

“This game was really exciting and a great extension of the Batting for Change philanthropic work. The winner on the day was definitely cricket,” said Ryan Carters.

Rob Lloyd, a Barker parent who works with the LBW Trust said, “This fundraising initiative is really exciting and has great balance. The money raised from this event will help us to fund two new technology buildings to provide computers and onsite teaching to help local villagers finish high school and head into tertiary education. The buildings will be located on existing campuses in North and South Sri Lanka and will be called the ‘Barker College Batting for Change Technology Centres’. Harvey Norman pledged $20,000 and the Barker community raised an additional $5000 via raffles and auctions.”

Deputy Head at Barker College, Matt Macoustra, said, “We are very pleased that the whole school and surrounding community joined with our Barker Cricket Club in this initiative. We have a team of students touring Sri Lanka in January 2016 and this philanthropic initiative will not only help our friends in Sri Lanka, but also teach our boys so much about the power of philanthropy and the joy that comes from giving.”

This summer Batting for Change aims to raise $66,666 for the LBW Trust to support the university education of 500 young women living in poverty in Mumbai, India. To learn how you can help, please visit their website www.battingforchange.com.au and donate to the Batting for Change initiative.

 

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