Cricket's patron saint of desperate causes

Whenever Steve Waugh was at the crease Australia always had a fighting chance of clawing its way back from the brink, and in retirement he's still drawing upon that inner grit to provide the nation's 'forgotten children' with hope.

Since stowing his Baggy Green cap away in 2004, Waugh has devoted his energies to, not surprisingly, the underdogs.

The foundation he and his wife Lynette founded is dedicated to helping children with rare diseases, although, Waugh wonders aloud how rare they really are considering 300,000 Aussie children are affected by them.

During the Steve Waugh Foundation's [SWF] decade-plus existence the now 51-year-old has become a saint of desperate causes because he's the last person most families can turn to for help.

The so-called Iceman of world cricket, who is said to have introduced "mental disintegration" into the game and demanded a toughness from his players that bordered on ruthlessness, speaks tenderly when asked about the kids he helps.

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"The families we support have children with extremely rare conditions and they literally have nowhere to go, there's no support mechanism behind them," said Waugh, who credits meeting Mother Teresa in 1996 as the reason why he's trying to make the world a better place..

"There is no government funding for them, there is no charities for them ... they're people with nowhere to turn and we're the last port of call for these families."

Waugh's efforts to support children with tongue twister-like names for insidious illnesses has moved their parents to tears.

Image Id: ~/media/E66991C42AF74FD3B2EAE45C70EA0DE3 Image Caption: Steve Waugh with Renee Eliades who has a form of dwarfism that affects one in a million people // Supplied

A woman once spoke of the rare sense of calm that swept over her after she broke down and cried when she met the cricket legend at a function and said her daughter needed a swimming pool to exercise her withering limbs.

"He said that was an easy request, and not to worry because it'd be done," said the mother. "And he did it ... he did it ... and he can't possibly understand what that means to us."

Waugh, who has even had to provide some children with oxygen bottles to keep them alive because their financially-exhausted families can't afford to pay for them, said no story is ever the same.

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"They're always different and every story is amazing," he said. "Some of the things we're providing now is incredible … there's technology which allows children who are unable to move or talk to communicate through the pupils of their eyes.

"Every kid has a special story and they're so appreciative for the help. I'm constantly moved by the courage and strength … the love of their parents.

Image Id: ~/media/755B3EEDBA324E3DBDACCA4FD24DC768 Image Caption: Steve and Lynette Waugh were moved to try and get all Australians involved in helping the nation's 'forgotten children' // Supplied

"They say we've changed their lives – made a huge impact – and that means a lot to us at the foundation because there's a lot of hard work involved in charity, sometimes you wonder whether you're really making any headway and then you meet a parent who says you've made a difference."

Waugh says he's very "hands-on" and not only do he and Lynette spend the equivalent of a working week at the Foundation's Sydney-based office, at meetings or fundraisers, he also goes beyond the call of duty.

He'll put his body on the line – again - when he heads the annual Captain's Ride when it starts at Bowral on October 29 and finishes in Mt Kosciusko Park, six days and 701 gruelling kilometres later.

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The ride is limited to only 70 bicycle riders and Waugh doesn't hide the fact a crucial part of the criteria for someone to be accepted is their ability to raise "significant" funds.

This year the riders will call Anna Meares, regarded as Australia's greatest track cyclist and an Olympic champion, as a teammate along with British Olympic decathlon legend Daley Thompson, former Australian opening batsman Matthew Hayden, AFL great Adam Goodes, Paralympian John Maclean and other inspirational riders who Waugh will announce soon.

"We have quite a few spots available and we're looking for people who want to do the challenge; people who want to learn about leadership ... every night an Anna Meares or Daley Thompson will speak and they'll provide insights about leadership and overcoming challenges.. and we want people who want to raise funds because they believe in our charity.

"There are significant milestones they need to meet [for fundraising] but we don't apologise for that because the Foundation has [only] two major fundraisers a year. However, there's good value there, you'd have to pay a lot of money at a corporate function to listen to the people who'll talk each night of the ride.

"Apart from all of that they'll have the time of their life with good people and working towards a great cause."

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Waugh believes Australians have a much better appreciation for the plight of families with children who suffer from rare diseases than when he first started.

"Australia is seen as the 'lucky country' but it isn't for some and they need help," he said.

"[What I've learnt is] Aussies are a race that don't like people to stand alone. They like to stand in their corner and support them and that's what these kids are like, they have enormous courage and character."