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Tasmanian Cricketers 'Lend a hand to Hugo'

Luke Williams wants to help Hugo 'live a life like the rest of us' // The Mercury

All of us want to make a difference in the world and one 15-year old Hobart schoolboy is making it his mission to do just this.

Whilst many teens are hanging out with their friends, playing video games or watching TV, North Hobart cricketer Luke Williams is using his spare time to run a charity to create awareness of autism.

It’s a remarkable story that the Sacred Heart College student is creating and the will and passion to make a difference is evident in everything about his ‘Lend a Hand to Hugo’ foundation.

Lend a hand to Hugo was founded in August 2014 after Williams’ 4-year old nephew Hugo was diagnosed with autism at an early age which meant until a year ago he did not speak.

 “It was recommended that Hugo get 20 hours of therapy per week but due to high costs the family could only afford 10 hours per week," Williams told crickettas.com.au.

“In order to get Hugo his recommended hours I decided to start up Lend a Hand to Hugo."


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Four-year-old Hugo is the centre piece of the "Lend a hand for Hugo" campaign.


Williams’ family being affected was not the only reason he created the foundation however, he felt that the public might not understand Hugo and other children with autism as well as they should and he believed he could change this.

“Raising awareness to me is very vital, I feel as though if we can raise more awareness people will understand the disorder more,” Williams said.

“My mission from this is to make sure Hugo and his family go on with their everyday life and I am there for support as well as everyone else who supports the charity. I also hope to make other families with autism feel they are being supported.”

With Williams being a member of the North Hobart Cricket Club as well as part of the Cricket Tasmania Emerging Tigers program, he thought to use his cricket background to drum up support of the campaign and introduced ‘The Cricket Project’ which enables cricketers around Australia to raise autism awareness through their cricket.

“The Cricket Project was initiated at the start of the season last year with myself and two mates putting stickers on our bats and earning a sponsorship from the Hill Street Grocer who donated for every run, wicket and catch we took,” Williams said.

“I had no idea how much the project would grow, we now have over 100 sticker ambassadors and also eight sponsored players who donate through performance.”

From what started as three junior cricketers with stickers on their bats, now has some of the best Tasmanian and interstate cricketers supporting the campaign.

The 15-year old said he was incredibly overwhelmed with the support from Tasmanian contracted players and club cricketers around Tasmania.

“Jordan Silk and Ben Dunk in particular have been an amazing support for the foundation especially around our inaugural charity match last season,” Williams said.

“Other Tasmanian contracted players who are ambassadors include Caleb Jewell, Beau Webster, Sean Willis, Jake Doran, Ben McDermott, Riley Meredith, Luke Butterworth, Ryan Lees and Tom Triffit. Cripps Roar players Veronica Pyke and Paris Crowe are also on board.

“The Tassie boys have been an amazing support and are always there if I need some advice or ideas regarding the charity.”

Going forward Williams said he hopes to see all of the Tasmanian Tigers and more First Class players with stickers on their cricket bats.

“It's fantastic to see not only Tasmanian players supporting the foundation but also high profile players from other states and hopefully we see more players raising awareness through the Sheffield Shield, Matador Cup and BBL.

“With more and more players on board, young children will see our stickers on the back of their idols' bats and become more aware of what autism actually is.”

On the back of the successful ‘Cricket Project’ Williams said he is now looking at launching a multi-sport project, signing ambassadors from sports such as AFL, netball, soccer, hockey and tennis who will wear Lend Hand for Hugo shoelaces in their selected sports.


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Hobart Hurricanes bowler Jake Reed joins the campaign for Hugo.


Collingwood footballer and recent Anzac Day medalist Paul Seedsman has already committed to be an ambassador with Williams in talks with many other prominent AFL players and local athletes..

With the foundation not even a year old yet, Williams has made significant awareness through several events including a Tasman Bridge walk where participants wore blue (colour of autism) and also with the inaugural charity match with Tigers Coach Dan Marsh coming out of retirement to play. The match also included an auction raising over $5000.

“I hope to make the charity match an inaugural event with more high profile players supporting us as well as more Tassie locals,” Williams said.

With the foundation close to his heart and a vision of it gathering momentum year on year, Williams has a bigger picture in mind going forward.

“My goal for this campaign is as it grows is that we start supporting other families who struggle with donations but as mentioned earlier, it really is raising awareness that is the key for the charity growing,” Williams said.

“We love how much it is being spread around social media and I feel more people in Tasmania are more aware of autism since we started last year.

“This is only the beginning and I believe this foundation could really grow further than it already has".

- Originally published on Cricket Tasmania's website - www.crickettas.com.au