Walking for Cade – a community united in hope
By Rob Clancy, staff writer
On Friday, 26 September, the Grand Final public holiday, family, friends and supporters came together along Melbourne’s bayside for The Long Walk Home — a moving tribute to Cade Watts, who passed away in February 2023 at just 15 years of age from Ewing Sarcoma.
The walk was organised by Cade’s father, former Western Bulldogs player Jason Watts, together with a group of friends and relatives known as Team Cade. Their aim was to honour Cade’s memory while raising vital funds for Hudson Institute of Medical Research’s sarcoma program.
“This is the most common type of cancer in children and even for those who survive, the effects can be devastating, so we want to make a positive difference”, says Jason Watts.
A community response
Participants chose from four starting points — St Kilda Pier (40km), Mentone (20km), Chelsea (10km) and Seaford (5km) — all converging at Frankston Pier. Every step symbolically carrying Cade’s spirit through the places he loved most.
The event drew walkers of all ages: Cade’s schoolmates, teammates, local families and long-time supporters and was generously sponsored by RedZed, Donovan Real Estate, and ICHH Consulting. Together, they turned grief into action, raising significant funds to accelerate research into sarcoma, one of the most aggressive and underfunded childhood cancers.
Cade’s legacy lives on
For Jason, the walk was about more than distance. “We wanted to do something that reflected Cade’s strength and resilience, and to bring people together in his name,” he said.
Although Cade’s life was heartbreakingly short, his legacy is already inspiring change. The Long Walk Home is set to become an annual tradition, ensuring Cade’s story continues to drive progress in sarcoma research for years to come.
Team Cade’s generous sponsors
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