1 00:00:05,360 --> 00:00:08,160 Speaker 1: And we've got the rugby league legend Mark Hughes on 2 00:00:08,200 --> 00:00:09,840 Speaker 1: the phone. Hello, Mike, how are you hi? 3 00:00:10,160 --> 00:00:12,120 Speaker 2: We feel I'm good mate, How are you nice. 4 00:00:11,960 --> 00:00:12,600 Speaker 1: To talk to you. 5 00:00:12,800 --> 00:00:17,279 Speaker 3: The Beanie for Brain Cancer campaign has made a significant impact, 6 00:00:17,360 --> 00:00:20,560 Speaker 3: and we'll talk about that. You were diagnosed in twenty thirteen, 7 00:00:20,720 --> 00:00:25,119 Speaker 3: and with any life changing health diagnosis, the initial reaction 8 00:00:25,320 --> 00:00:26,279 Speaker 3: is what you weren't expecting. 9 00:00:26,320 --> 00:00:27,320 Speaker 1: This is a complete shock. 10 00:00:28,320 --> 00:00:30,520 Speaker 2: Oh, sure, I was made I was thirty six, I 11 00:00:30,560 --> 00:00:34,040 Speaker 2: was fit and strong, healthy, three children under ten, I 12 00:00:34,159 --> 00:00:38,040 Speaker 2: was bulletproofed. But yeah, a headache for a day also 13 00:00:38,200 --> 00:00:40,600 Speaker 2: and a trip to the doctors and my life changed, 14 00:00:41,240 --> 00:00:44,839 Speaker 2: you know forever. I had had to get into hospital, 15 00:00:44,920 --> 00:00:48,880 Speaker 2: tumor removed, radiation, chemote therapy and all of a sudden 16 00:00:48,920 --> 00:00:52,000 Speaker 2: on a high grade brain answer patient. Yeah. Crazy. 17 00:00:52,159 --> 00:00:54,160 Speaker 3: And then once you get through that, you come to 18 00:00:54,280 --> 00:00:56,880 Speaker 3: terms with that in the several stages that you go through. 19 00:00:57,280 --> 00:01:00,000 Speaker 3: Then there's the part of you as a public figure 20 00:01:00,120 --> 00:01:03,200 Speaker 3: that says, how can I use my position to become 21 00:01:03,240 --> 00:01:06,319 Speaker 3: an advocate for this? And that's exactly what you've done 22 00:01:06,400 --> 00:01:08,560 Speaker 3: with the Beanie for Brain Cancer campaign. 23 00:01:08,600 --> 00:01:09,720 Speaker 1: So well done with that, my friend. 24 00:01:10,520 --> 00:01:12,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, it was you know, I had lucky to have 25 00:01:12,840 --> 00:01:16,080 Speaker 2: a professional sporting career for ten years, met a lot 26 00:01:16,080 --> 00:01:18,319 Speaker 2: of people, made a lot of friends, and I just 27 00:01:18,360 --> 00:01:21,600 Speaker 2: felt that, you know, nothing had changed for brain cancer 28 00:01:21,600 --> 00:01:24,000 Speaker 2: in thirty years. There was little awareness, no one knew 29 00:01:24,080 --> 00:01:28,520 Speaker 2: much about it. And p personal reasons and to help others. 30 00:01:28,920 --> 00:01:31,160 Speaker 2: I wanted to try and find the answer. So that's 31 00:01:31,200 --> 00:01:34,200 Speaker 2: what we set out to do and probably couldn't have 32 00:01:34,640 --> 00:01:36,560 Speaker 2: dreamt of, you know, what was about. 33 00:01:36,360 --> 00:01:39,800 Speaker 3: To happen, and working with medical professionals and researchers and 34 00:01:39,840 --> 00:01:42,800 Speaker 3: other organizations. It's very interesting for somebody who you know, 35 00:01:42,880 --> 00:01:46,720 Speaker 3: has you know, experience in playing rugby league, but not 36 00:01:46,800 --> 00:01:50,040 Speaker 3: experience in that area and then being able to dive 37 00:01:50,120 --> 00:01:53,000 Speaker 3: into that area and find out and explore things that 38 00:01:53,080 --> 00:01:55,440 Speaker 3: you don't know. And also I guess you learn that 39 00:01:55,520 --> 00:01:58,840 Speaker 3: about yourself, but you also learn how much resilience and 40 00:01:58,880 --> 00:02:01,560 Speaker 3: how much strength you had that you didn't realize you 41 00:02:01,600 --> 00:02:02,520 Speaker 3: had in the first place. 42 00:02:03,280 --> 00:02:06,840 Speaker 2: Yeah. Absolutely, you know I was probably pigeonholed as a footballer. 43 00:02:07,800 --> 00:02:09,919 Speaker 2: But you know, I've got to say my wife Kia 44 00:02:10,000 --> 00:02:12,440 Speaker 2: Lee has just been absolutely amazing the whole way, and 45 00:02:12,680 --> 00:02:15,480 Speaker 2: she drives all this with me and you know, just 46 00:02:15,600 --> 00:02:18,280 Speaker 2: we you know, I had to spin a terrible situation 47 00:02:18,400 --> 00:02:22,240 Speaker 2: into a positive. We had to. We had to fight back. 48 00:02:22,320 --> 00:02:24,679 Speaker 2: You know, there's so many people out there phoning this 49 00:02:24,760 --> 00:02:28,680 Speaker 2: disease and there's no cure for brain cancer. So yeah, 50 00:02:28,680 --> 00:02:30,320 Speaker 2: we had to we had to give this a real go. 51 00:02:30,560 --> 00:02:32,360 Speaker 3: Yeah, and I guess also the perspective of it as 52 00:02:32,360 --> 00:02:34,280 Speaker 3: well as that you've got your partner with you, and 53 00:02:34,400 --> 00:02:38,320 Speaker 3: I mean that brings so much more to the experience 54 00:02:38,400 --> 00:02:40,520 Speaker 3: when you've got someone that you can talk to about 55 00:02:40,520 --> 00:02:41,000 Speaker 3: this as well. 56 00:02:41,720 --> 00:02:45,359 Speaker 2: Oh absolutely, mate, she's you know, my wife's been absolutely amazing. 57 00:02:45,400 --> 00:02:49,240 Speaker 2: I got three three or four in our office to 58 00:02:49,320 --> 00:02:52,120 Speaker 2: do an amazing job. But mostly the rest is run 59 00:02:52,160 --> 00:02:54,760 Speaker 2: on the line heart to volunteers. You know, we don't 60 00:02:54,840 --> 00:02:58,760 Speaker 2: waste to send I'm one hundred percent volunteer. You know, 61 00:02:58,880 --> 00:03:02,080 Speaker 2: this is this is we just need the answers for 62 00:03:02,120 --> 00:03:04,720 Speaker 2: brain cancer. And I think people see that and I 63 00:03:04,760 --> 00:03:07,560 Speaker 2: think that's why, you know, a lot of people get 64 00:03:07,560 --> 00:03:08,480 Speaker 2: behind what we're doing. 65 00:03:08,680 --> 00:03:11,600 Speaker 3: Of course, the beanie for brain cancer around it's happening. Now, 66 00:03:11,840 --> 00:03:14,079 Speaker 3: how can people get involved in this one? 67 00:03:14,680 --> 00:03:16,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, this is really important. You know, we need to 68 00:03:16,880 --> 00:03:20,040 Speaker 2: sell beanies because we've got to continue our accelerated efforts 69 00:03:20,040 --> 00:03:23,200 Speaker 2: with the research. So people listening can just simply walk 70 00:03:23,400 --> 00:03:26,720 Speaker 2: walk down the lows right across Australia and you'll get 71 00:03:26,720 --> 00:03:30,600 Speaker 2: a beanie. You can selected I gas have beanies where 72 00:03:30,639 --> 00:03:34,080 Speaker 2: you get on the Mark Hughes Foundation website and audio beanies, 73 00:03:34,280 --> 00:03:36,920 Speaker 2: or go to the footy across the weekend. Our volunteers 74 00:03:36,920 --> 00:03:38,280 Speaker 2: are going to be selling them at the games. 75 00:03:38,440 --> 00:03:40,520 Speaker 1: Will I have a go at tipping the weekend's games? 76 00:03:41,280 --> 00:03:42,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, let's do it all right. 77 00:03:42,400 --> 00:03:44,360 Speaker 1: Warry versus the Rabbinos tonight? 78 00:03:45,320 --> 00:03:48,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, Look the Warriors they're playing really good footy, so 79 00:03:48,560 --> 00:03:50,120 Speaker 2: being a bit of a surprise packet. So I'm going 80 00:03:50,200 --> 00:03:51,800 Speaker 2: to I'm going to stick with them, but I think 81 00:03:51,880 --> 00:03:54,400 Speaker 2: South when they do get there together, we'll be right 82 00:03:54,440 --> 00:03:55,200 Speaker 2: up there at the finish. 83 00:03:55,320 --> 00:03:56,920 Speaker 1: I'm putting down Warriors. Then I'm going to hold you 84 00:03:56,960 --> 00:03:57,360 Speaker 1: to this too. 85 00:03:57,360 --> 00:04:00,080 Speaker 3: If I lose my money on Monday, we're calling you. 86 00:04:00,320 --> 00:04:03,160 Speaker 1: Storm's Melbourn, Storm and Penrith. Who you got there? 87 00:04:04,600 --> 00:04:06,880 Speaker 2: I'm going to go. I'll just go to Storm. But 88 00:04:07,040 --> 00:04:08,520 Speaker 2: that's going to be a great game tonight. 89 00:04:08,720 --> 00:04:10,440 Speaker 1: I think the Panthers may show you something there. 90 00:04:10,480 --> 00:04:13,280 Speaker 3: We never know, right, Yeah, I wouldn't be surprised and 91 00:04:13,320 --> 00:04:14,840 Speaker 3: sad they cowboys be Tigers. 92 00:04:16,520 --> 00:04:17,400 Speaker 2: Cowboys yep. 93 00:04:17,440 --> 00:04:22,960 Speaker 1: Okay, Broncos and Dolphins Broncos. Okay, putting it out there. 94 00:04:24,040 --> 00:04:25,680 Speaker 2: You're not going to ask me about my former team 95 00:04:25,720 --> 00:04:28,320 Speaker 2: the Knights and Bordog Yeah, go on, or is it's 96 00:04:28,320 --> 00:04:29,480 Speaker 2: not worth you just picked the Knights. 97 00:04:29,600 --> 00:04:32,920 Speaker 1: No, no, I'm going to get to that. You don't 98 00:04:32,960 --> 00:04:36,680 Speaker 1: have to be embarrassed. You know, I'm not Joey John's made. 99 00:04:36,680 --> 00:04:37,159 Speaker 1: It's okay. 100 00:04:37,160 --> 00:04:40,919 Speaker 2: You're right, my lord with the Knights, and you know, 101 00:04:41,000 --> 00:04:43,080 Speaker 2: hopefully we can have a win against the Bardo. But 102 00:04:43,360 --> 00:04:45,120 Speaker 2: you know what the winner is this weekend. A bit 103 00:04:45,120 --> 00:04:47,320 Speaker 2: of a cliche, but I think brain cancer is the winner. 104 00:04:48,200 --> 00:04:52,040 Speaker 2: The NRL getting behind it, all the clubs, all the fans, coaches, 105 00:04:52,080 --> 00:04:56,120 Speaker 2: boar boys, referees, everyone, cameraman. They're all wearing beanies and 106 00:04:56,279 --> 00:04:59,599 Speaker 2: it's a beautiful thing. So yeah, really grateful for that support. 107 00:04:59,680 --> 00:05:01,640 Speaker 3: And I thank you for the way you've become an 108 00:05:01,680 --> 00:05:03,960 Speaker 3: advocate for this as well, and for showing your strength 109 00:05:04,000 --> 00:05:06,640 Speaker 3: and resilience so on, behalf of this much, so well, Donete, 110 00:05:06,640 --> 00:05:07,960 Speaker 3: thanks so much, No. 111 00:05:08,160 --> 00:05:11,560 Speaker 2: Thank you. You know, I feel blessed that I'm still here. 112 00:05:11,600 --> 00:05:13,720 Speaker 2: You know I'm getting a great run of this. I 113 00:05:13,760 --> 00:05:16,760 Speaker 2: still have skins every four months. I'm battling like everyone else, 114 00:05:16,800 --> 00:05:19,599 Speaker 2: but a lot of people don't get the privileges I do. 115 00:05:19,839 --> 00:05:21,839 Speaker 2: So I'm grateful and I'm running with that, and I 116 00:05:21,839 --> 00:05:23,560 Speaker 2: feel like we've got an army and support behind it. 117 00:05:23,680 --> 00:05:25,920 Speaker 1: Yeah, that's right. Every day above ground is a good day. 118 00:05:25,920 --> 00:05:28,280 Speaker 1: My friend, sure is good to talk me. Thanks so much.