When the Raiders Foundation Jersey was announced, plenty of fans took the opportunity to ensure their name appeared.
Here are some of their stories on what the Raiders means to them and why they chose to support the Raiders Foundation in this way.
The Barritt-Eyles Family
My wife, my brother and I have been long-term raiders fans since the day we were born. My family have always had the Raiders to thank for bringing us together on a weekend with each game a standing appointment to catch up and see each other outside of our regularly busy lives.
To us, the raiders are more than just football. They are part of our family and will continue to be for the rest of our lives.
Supporting the Raiders foundation was an easy choice for us. It was a chance for us to give back to the club that has given us so much over the years.
We are excited to be able to provide further support to strengthen the club so that future Barritt-Eyles generations have the option to be a part of such a community focussed organisation.
The success on the field in recent years has been fantastic, but for us, it will always be about bringing the family together - win, lose or draw. It was a small donation in comparison to the large gift you give us every year: memories.
Thank you, Raiders.
Samuel Pitson
I have loved this club since I was seven years old and am now 38.
The Raiders Foundation is such a great initiative & I am so happy to contribute a small part to its inception.
Having your name or family name on the Raiders Foundation jersey makes you feel so proud as a supporter.
It's the closest association my name will ever have at the club and for the players to be wearing a jersey with my name on it makes you feel really special as a supporter.
Knowing you were part of Raiders history, however small, is a really significant moment as a life long Raiders fan.
I contributed to the Raiders Foundation because I want to see young athletes from the ACT nurtured & given the best opportunity they can to be the best they can be.
The Raiders Foundation will offer this & I can't wait until it grows into a powerhouse facility of care, development & ultimately, success.
Thank you, Canberra Raiders for allowing an everyday man like myself to be part of something really special and I will continue to bleed green until the day I die.
Go the Mighty Green Machine!
Kate Howard
The reason why I bought a name on the jersey is that I am a huge Raiders fan since when I could remember. I wanted to show that I support them on and off the field.
In addition, the Raiders are an awesome club to be a member of. I will take every opportunity I can, to continue supporting them.
Patrick Stanton
The reason that I wanted my name on the jersey is to be a part of a great team's history.
To have my name on the jersey is such an honour and to have our boys playing in that jersey is awesome.
I am so proud of the boys and the Raiders club for all the effort they put into helping out people and foundations in need through their charity work.
Sam Higginson-Collits
I have been a life long Raiders fan. My partner bought me this membership as she knew how much I wanted to be a part of something special for the club.
The Raiders mean a lot to me and I am a very passionate supporter, never missing a home game rain, hail or shine.
This shirt means a lot to me specifically and shows my commitment to the club with this special one of a kind shirt. Seeing my name on the shirt was a special moment for me and I will wear it with pride.
Leigh Hancock
Apart from the opportunity to donate to the foundation and help support it, my son Spencer loves the Raiders and the chance to have his name on a jersey that the boys wear was too good to miss. He was so pumped when I gave it to him.
Leon Bedington
I thought supporting the foundation was a nice way of permanently linking to the Raiders.
I started supporting the Raiders the year Mal moved to Canberra. I had been a player and member of his Brisbane team Souths, so with Mal and Gary Belcher and Peter Jackson the following year becoming Raiders, I followed too.
I have been a supporter ever since and a member both for the seven years I lived in Canberra and ever since.
As a Raiders man I have stuck solid both through the glory years and the hard times. I remember standing in a pub with my son-in-law (a Manly supporter) in Noosa Heads and feeling the pain of a first Grand Final loss.
I also remember the elation of 89 and being at the ground for the 90 and 91 Grand Finals with mixed emotions.
I have been there for 35 years and even living in Queensland I proudly show my allegiance to the Raiders with one of the few Canberra Raiders car number plates with Qld registration.
More recently I was there with my daughter and grandson for the preliminary final win last year.
I suppose you could say I am truly Green Forever.
The Street Family
The Canberra Raiders have supported local rugby league for nearly 40 years helping players, clubs and competitions to thrive, providing entertainment and sporting excellence for thousands of fans.
The Street Family has been there cheering them on nearly the whole time - Dad has been there since day one.
The least we could do was provide support back by donating to the Raiders Foundation, and it’s pretty cool knowing the team will be wearing our name along with many other loyal fans on the foundation jersey.
Well done Raiders and go the Green Machine.
Jacinta and Rick Anderson
I believe. We believe. The passion is back. Green Machine forever.
Brooke Wemyss
I was three when the Raiders entered the NSWRL competition and ever since then I have bled green and followed my beloved Raiders.
So when the opportunity arose to support my team, I jumped at the chance to have my name embedded on the team jersey.
They are my team and I bleed green!
We Are Raiders
Adam McMaster
I've bled Green since 1987 when I started supporting the Raiders as a 14 year old. One year later, I played my first game of league.
Bradley Clyde was the player I looked up to as well as Big Mal. I've been a diehard ever since and the number of jerseys I own is ridiculous. This year alone I have bought six.
My support never waivers, through good and bad times. I will always bleed green!
Matthew Gatt
I have been a Raiders fan since I was going to games as a child during the glory years with my family and my passion for the club continues to this day.
I have been a Raiders member for almost 20 years and have had many memorable moments along the way, whether it's cheering the team on at home, going on road trips to away games, making like-minded friends and who could forget the amazing atmosphere and Viking Clap at the grand final last year.
During this time, I have started a family of my own and have continued the tradition of going to the games, now with my two Raiders loving daughters – both members since the day they were born.
To have my name on the Raiders jersey was a special opportunity to be a part of Raiders history, showing my love for the team and as a bonus, supporting a worthy cause.
Sharon Woolmer
.I had no hesitation paying for my name to be on the jersey. I am not very passionate about many things, other than the Mighty Canberra Raiders!
I'll support the team and the players for as long as I live. I am very proud to be associated with such a fine club.
Jeff Card
I immediately jumped at the chance to not only have my name on this great clubs jersey but to also help contribute to the Raiders Foundation and its young athletes.
I take great delight in the opportunity of being part of Raiders history and at the same time help play a part in the on-field and off-field success.
It is a pleasure to wear the jersey with pride to not only show my passion and support for the Green Machine but also the Raiders Foundation as it provides access to the best available resources and facilities, helping the local culture and community.
Over my lifetime the Raiders have meant so much to me personally and have had a big positive effect on the district, not only from a sporting perspective but the community as a whole. This will certainly continue and further prosper into the future with the Raiders Foundation.
The jersey will take pride of place in my Raiders collection and I will always wear it with passion and pride.
The Bergin Family
Back in 1982 Phil Bergin started taking his young son, Brendan, and daughter, Belinda, to Raiders games at Seiffert. As the Raiders moved to Bruce, Phil and Belinda kept their season tickets, even bussing up to the '89, '90 and '94 grand finals.
Belinda ended up moving overseas, but Phil kept his season ticket and attended with friends even as his health deteriorated. He even joined the Meningans club to give back to the Raiders.
Belinda only managed to make a handful of games over the years living in the USA, but found great joy in building new Raiders memories taking the 3 grandkids to games.
Phil was cremated with his beloved, and well-travelled, Raiders beanie in 2016, but his legacy of Raiders love lives on through the grandkids.
We support the Raiders and added the Bergin family to the foundation Jersey in honour of Phil Bergin, husband, father, grandfather and a loyal Raiders fan.
Jaeger Vallejera
We got our family name on the Raiders Foundation jersey to support such an incredible club that represents a lot to our family.
My parents moved to Canberra from the Philippines back in 1991, to create a better life for my sister and I. My dad dove straight into the Australian culture by getting behind the local Rugby League team, the Mighty Canberra Raiders, and our family have been Raiders ever since!
Through the good times and the tough times, the Green Machine have always brought us closer together as a family. It is awesome to be part of the Raiders foundation jersey, and part of the Raiders family!
Other fans who have their names on the jersey sent through pictures as well.
