Nick Riewoldt accepts Geraldton’s fundraising efforts of $13,000 for Maddie Riewoldt’s Vision

Former St Kilda champion Nick Riewoldt has thanked Geraldton and the Mid West community after being handed a cheque of local donations for the charity he set up to honour his late sister.

The city and region raised more than $10,000 earlier this year for Maddie Riewoldt’s Vision, which was established to raise funds and awareness as well as fund research for bone marrow failure syndromes.

Riewoldt’s sister Maddie died at the age of 26 from complications due to bone marrow failure syndrome in 2015.

At the start of this year, a Geraldton woman passionate about research into the disease organised a fundraising event in town.

Raema Rose-Spinks said after the barbecue fundraiser and collecting the tins around town, she delivered a further cheque worth $2100 to Riewoldt in person earlier this year.

“I just want the community to know I did what I said I would,” Ms Rose-Spinks said. “I met him and got a photo to prove the money went to the cause.”

Ms Rose-Spinks said bone marrow failure research could lead to discovering treatments for other diseases.

“We’ve been raising funds since 2015, St Kilda sent over a bunch of merchandise to help raise funds,” she said.

“I think $13,000 is a great achievement by our town.”