In 2015, Leilani met her hero Ollie Wines two days before she went in for major heart surgery.
It was at that visit that Ollie left her with the powerful parting words: “when you’re finished, you come back and tell us that you’re ok”.
Leilani held onto his words for nine years, and today in a heartwarming moment that saw her sprinting over to Ollie before training, she finally got to tell him that she was doing well.
As part of the club’s longstanding partnership with Variety – The Children’s Charity, Leilani and her family were invited into the inner sanctum for a special surprise ahead of Saturday night’s blockbuster Showdown LVI.
In front of the playing group, Ollie welcomed Leilani and her family into the team meeting to tell them they’d be running out with the team that weekend.
Met with a big cheer from the players, brother Lachie was also surprised with the news that he’d also be joining his sister in the run out, before being proudly presented with his Prison Bar jumper by his favourite player Aliir Aliir.
Leilani, a 15-year-old with Down Syndrome, has a passion for dance and acting, and dreams of becoming a movie star.
Since 2023 she has been a Variety Scholarship recipient, helping cover the ongoing costs of travel and equipment associated with her dance activities.
CEO of Variety – The Children’s Charity of South Australia Mark McGill said he was proud of the partnership with Port Adelaide and the club’s not-for-profit Power Community Limited (PCL).
“Variety is a proud major partner of PCL’s Community Youth Program, now in our 7th year,” Mr. McGill said.
“Variety’s core values of inclusion and respect are the foundation of the program and the importance of making positive choices are promoted to aim for long term positive impact.”
PCL’s Community Youth Program is a joint initiative with the Government of South Australia and endeavours to teach young people across South Australia to make positive life choices for future success.
As part of the partnership with Port Adelaide, Leilani presented the Variety Showdown medal on Saturday night to Zak Butters, who was voted best on ground after setting the record for most disposals in a Showdown with 42.
The Variety Showdown shield was also presented to Port Adelaide captain Connor Rozee, with both sides AFL and AFLW teams now competing for the one shield, a change that commenced at the start of 2024.
In recognition of the long-standing partnership, the new shield now appropriately sits at the centre of the biggest games in the SA football calendar.
The modern design features Variety’s core values of equality, joy, community, and action as well as handprints that symbolise the significant number of children Variety supports each year.
The club’s partnership with Variety will subsequently carry over to the club’s first AFLW Showdown under lights at the redeveloped Alberton Oval on Saturday, August 31.
The Variety Showdown medal and shield will again be up for grabs, with tickets to the family friend event free for kids, and starting for just $15 for adults.
It’s not too late to join as a 2024 AFLW member, with options starting from just $30.
