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DIEHARD
28-05-10, 12:01 AM
Melbourne Storm to play for charity money for rest of 2010 season

MELBOURNE Storm's motivation to win has been reignited by the potential to raise more than $150,000 for charity during the remainder of the NRL season.

Storm can't play for premiership points, but a player-driven initiative has put the focus back on winning under the "Points with a Purpose" campaign.

Every win, try and goal scored by Storm players in the remaining 14 games of this season will earn selected charities between $1500 and $3000.

Should Storm continue the form it has shown in recent contests, the total could exceed $150,000 by season's end.

The idea was first raised in the leadership group the day after the club was penalised for salary cap breaches as players tried to find some meaning for their season.

Pride in the jumper has been the biggest motivation so far, but there was no certainty that would last for the next three months.

Now a different charity will be picked as beneficiary for each of Storm's remaining eight home games.

The pool of money raised in away games will be given to a selected charity when the season finishes.

The players were briefed on the final details of the plan yesterday and gave it a resounding thumbs up.

"We didn't just want something to play for, but we thought someone needed to benefit from what we did for the rest of the year," said Brett White, one of the Storm players behind the idea.

"The club and the players are rapt to be able to do that. We are going to be able to do some good things for some charities and have a feel-good year.

"And the more points we score, the more money we raise - so we'll have some fun, too."

Fans will be able to keep up with the team's charity contributions with updates to be posted on the big screens at the new AAMI Park.

Storm has enlisted the help of several companies - including Channel Nine, Harvey Norman, the Herald and Weekly Times, Foxtel, Melbourne and Olympic Parks Trust and Fox Sports - to contribute to the pool of charitable funds.

The program will begin with this Sunday's clash against the Bulldogs at AAMI Park, with the Alannah and Madeline Foundation the first charity to benefit.

The players will meet each week to decide on the next beneficiary.

Source: Herald Sun