One in four young Australians (12-24yo) will experience a mental illness in any one year, which is why we are asking the sporting community across the Barwon Region to be part of Read The Play’s Sole Mates movement. Football & Netball clubs (juniors, seniors and umpires) will pull on their ‘Sole Mates’ socks in solidarity for the 2023 Read The Play round to signify the importance of breaking down the stigma surrounding Mental Health and supporting your mates.

Leading the way by starting the conversation, the fundraiser aims to spread awareness and raise much needed funds to assist in further improving the educational support for Youth Mental Health in local sporting clubs. Our ambassador’s Cameron Ling, Mark Blicavs, Mark O’Connor & Claudio Gunjaca will unite and encourage others to purchase a pair of ‘Sole Mates’ socks to support Read the Play, a program that has been delivered in football and netball clubs free of charge for 17 years.