Old Dogs walking for missing mate

It took strength, tenacity and resilience to win a place in the Western Bulldogs’ forward line in the mid-1990s, but nothing Jason Watts experienced on the football field came close to what he’s been through as a father, so he’s making it his mission to save other families from the same pain.

The father of three boys experienced every parent’s worst fear when his middle son Cade was diagnosed with cancer, aged just 14, in 2021.

Cade fought bravely, enduring endless rounds of chemotherapy, radiation and blood transfusions but could not overcome the cancer, which took his life a week short of his 16^th birthday.

Jason wore the number 25 in 57 AFL games for the Dogs, topping the goalkicking in 1996, then in retirement from footy moved into coaching in the Frankston area, so he knows all about toughness.

He also knows that there are limited treatment options for Ewing Sarcoma, the disease that took his son, so he’s trying to do something about it.

Along with former team-mates Jon Ballantyne, Ilija Grgic and a dedicated bunch of friends, Jason is raising funds for medical research in the hope that the next kid who finds himself in Cade’s position will have a better chance of beating the disease. He has been raising funds since Cade passed away.

“The more I looked into sarcomas, the more I found that survival rates haven’t improved in decades,” Jason said. “So we’re doing what we can to change that.”

The Long Walk Home for sarcoma research

“We’re working with Hudson Institute of Medical Research, right here in Melbourne, who are world leaders in sarcoma research. They’re aiming to develop the next generation of sarcoma treatments, but that takes money, so we’re hitting the road to raise funds for their research.”

The Long Walk Home is a charity walk to be held on the AFL Grand Final Eve public holiday, covering 40km from St.Kilda pier to Frankston pier.

Jason and his team are inviting anyone to join, with 40km, 20km, 10km and 5km options for the walk. For those who can’t do the walking, there are opportunities to sponsor the walkers or give a donation outright.

“It’s going to be a great event and we’re aiming to make it an annual thing,” Jason said. “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.”

“I’d love to see as many footy fans as possible join us – it’s a great way to get outdoors, experience our wonderful coastline, and do something positive for kids like Cade!”