Livestrong Brisbane shirts raise $40,000

Brisbane Broncos have helped raise over $40,000 and highlighted awareness of the Livestrong Foundation and the Cancer Council Queensland after the close of a special jersey auction last Friday.

The special Nike bright yellow jerseys the Broncos wore against the New Zealand Warriors were an instant hit with fans, who flooded Nike’s website, www.nikestore.com.au, for the week-long auction.

Each Broncos game jersey – which bore the monogrammed signature of Lance Armstrong – was personally signed by the player that wore it, and then placed up for bids.

It was hardly a surprise Darren Lockyer’s jersey was the most sought after, a determined fan paying $7600 for the yellow number six. Lockyer’s boots from the game also went under the hammer, fetching $4000.

The jersey of Justin Hodges was bought for over $3300, while another bidder picked up Israel Folau’s jersey for $2489.

Perhaps the bargain of the auction was the jersey Tonie Carroll made his infamous NRL comeback in that went for $2,225.

The total figure raised by the Broncos of $42,779 was split evenly between Armstrong’s Livestrong Foundation and the Broncos’ nominated charity, the Cancer Council Queensland.

“To raise that much money for the nominated charities was a super effort by Broncos and rugby league fans alike,” said Broncos chief executive Bruno Cullen.

“It was a special night to see the team running out in jerseys dedicated to Lance Armstrong, certainly one the club won’t forget.”