By GEORGIA WESTGARTH
COUNTLESS brain surgeries won’t stop Cranbourne’s Cody Wallace from running onto the MCG with his beloved Magpies to promote disability inclusion.
Ten-year-old Cody has been given the special privilege of junior mascot for the Collingwood Football Club, and will take centre stage at the Robert Rose Cup clash between the Pies and the Dogs.
Doctors located a tumour in Cody’s brain when he was just 22 months old, and Mum Tracy said, “had they not found the tumour when they did, Cody would have died within six weeks”.
His family of six will all be watching as Cody, now a student at the Nepean School, runs through the banner on Sunday 29 May.
Parents Tracy and Scott Wallace said they were thrilled that Cody had been given such an amazing opportunity.
“Cody has been a Collingwood supporter since he was born- he had no choice at all,” Tracy said, laughing.
“To be able to see the joy on Cody’s face will be priceless – a little boy who has endured more than any child his age should have to.
“This will be a moment that we cherish and the memory will last a lifetime,” they said.
Cody, who has developmental delays and short term memory loss, was chosen for the job as mascot by sponsors of the Robert Rose Cup Slater and Gordon.
Slater and Gordon medical lawyer Nick Mann said Cody was a deserving mascot.
“The Robert Rose Cup promotes the inclusion of people of all abilities to ensure that each and every one of us has the opportunity to participate in sporting activities and other opportunities,” Mr Mann said.
“Where we can, we try to support our clients beyond their legal claims.
“I am thrilled that we can arrange something special for Cody, and I think everyone at the MCG will see what a delightful and inspirational little boy he is.”
The Robert Rose Cup is named after former Collingwood champion Robert Rose, who became a quadriplegic following a car accident in 1974.
