Blues player and junior coach Alana Murray sustained life-changing injuries following an incident involving a tractor on Saturday, September 26, resulting in the local farmer’s transportation to Royal Melbourne Hospital and the amputation of her left leg.
Murray, originally from Ireland, is continuing to receive treatment in Melbourne but is reportedly in a stable condition, while support has come from far and wide to ease some of the financial burden associated with medical expenses and travel costs.
A GoFundMe organised by Shepparton United and senior women’s coach Sheridan Fairless has so far raised $25,000, with donations coming from within the Shepparton community and from clubs around the FV Greater Bendigo competition.
The Blues also came together at a presentation night to fundraise through a raffle, as well as keep the highly regarded club figure in their thoughts.
“She's had a pretty life-changing accident which is devastating for her, her partner, the club and her family,” Fairless said.
“We’re trying to do as much as we possibly can to try and help her out and ease some financial pressure over the next couple of months for them.
“She’s stable at the moment, she's been awake and talking and everything since mid-last week.
“In terms of where she's at, I think she'll have potentially one more surgery – she's had a number of surgeries, I think seven actually.”
Affectionately known as ‘Irish’, Murray has been a key member of the Blues senior women’s squad for a number of seasons, and was one of their goalscorers in the recent grand final against Spring Gully.
But it’s hours of devotion and work off the pitch that has Murray held in high regard around the Blues community, and has subsequently prompted a swift response from those willing to assist in any way possible following her accident.
“In terms of Alana, she's been a really great person to have at the club over the past couple of years,” Fairless said.
“She plays in our senior women's team and also coaches our under-10 girls. She’s done that this year, and they love her and she loves them.
“She’s a good community person giving up her time to coach the kids, and we just want to do whatever we can to support her at the moment in her time of need.”
To support Alana on her road to recovery, donations can be made directly through her GoFundMe page at https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-alana-in-her-road-to-recovery
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