North Melbourne president Sonja Hood declared free from breast cancer, will attend game against GWS Giants
North Melbourne president Sonja Hood will make her first appearance at the football this season on Good Friday after being declared cancer free.
In a letter published on the club’s website on Wednesday afternoon, Hood said she had received the all-clear after being diagnosed with breast cancer in February.
The Kangaroos boss will be at Docklands Stadium as North Melbourne searches for its third win of the season in a game against GWS on Friday afternoon.
READ MORE: AFL boss lifts lid on ‘burden’ facing gay players
READ MORE: Gould tees off over ‘ridiculous’ NRL oversight
READ MORE: Aussie gun busts ‘myth’ after 10.02 flyer
Her treatment for breast cancer involved undergoing a mastectomy and tissue reconstruction, and she’ll be on medication for the next five to 10 years “to reduce the chances of it coming back”, she wrote.
“It’s been a whirlwind. Although I’m overjoyed at the result, it’s been a couple of months I’d prefer not to repeat. I also know that if we hadn’t found it when we did, this could be a very different outcome,” Hood added.
“So please, if you need to go and get tested — do it.”
North Melbourne’s Good Friday game doubles as a fundraiser for the Royal Children’s Hospital.
“I’m asking as many of you as possible to come along. Let’s fill Marvel Stadium with the royal blue and white so we can break the record crowd of 48,278 for this fixture,” Hood wrote.
100% Footy is now available as a podcast! Subscribe/follow via Apple, Spotify or Google Podcasts.
“And most importantly, let’s give the kids and their families something to really smile about.”
Hood pulled off a massive coup when she landed four-time premiership-winning coach Alastair Clarkson in August last year, securing his signature on a five-year deal.
The appointment of Clarkson followed the axing of David Noble in July.
North Melbourne is placed seventh on the ladder ahead of round four, following a five-point win against West Coast, a one-point victory over Fremantle and a 19-point loss to Hawthorn.
The Kangaroos are aiming to avoid copping three wooden spoons in succession.
For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here!
The biggest controversies in AFL history
