The GIANTS are delighted to announce that they have succeeded in their mission to have a new hospice built in Western Sydney to provide end-of-life palliative and respite care for babies and children, which will be known as Mounties Care Cottage.
In 2023, club legend Callan Ward and his wife Ruby prompted the GIANTS Foundation to get behind Rio’s Legacy, a charity established by Ryan and Karen Fowler with a mission to help other families confronted by the unimaginable experience of losing a child.
“This is an amazing cause. For me, I’m a father of three children so I think children are the most important thing in life,” Ward said following Tuesday’s announcement.
“This project is so important for babies, children and the whole community.
“To put myself in the shoes of these families of sick children is something I don’t want to imagine. But if I did, then I’d want amazing support and help and Mounties Care Cottage is a perfect example of that."
“Our time in hospital was traumatic, leaving our family separated and fearful of what might lay ahead. But everything changed when we arrived at Bear Cottage, a children’s hospice in Manly. Rio was still gravely ill, but we were together and nurtured by people who knew what to do when words failed,” he said.
“Even though we were saying goodbye, we were safe, love was everywhere and it is this love that has driven our mission to build a children’s hospice in Western Sydney.”
The heartbreaking story of Rio Fowler, who died of a rare condition before the age of two, motivated the GIANTS to set a goal of raising $30 million to build a hospice to serve Western Sydney’s most vulnerable families in their hour of need.
Within two months, the GIANTS had joined forces with Mounties Group and together launched an awareness and fundraising campaign.
With a combined membership of over 300,000 people, there were match days, afternoon teas and a GIANT City2Surf fundraiser which saw the partnership raise $3.3 million to build the Mounties Care Cottage.
On Tuesday, the GIANTS and Rio’s Legacy attended the Westmead Children’s Hospital campus—the future site of Mounties Care Cottage—to celebrate a major funding milestone.
The Mounties Group increased its pledge to $13 million, and Minister for Health Ryan Park announced the Minns Government’s $20 million commitment to the project. Together, these contributions have secured the full funding needed to build the hospice.
“Our son Rio has always been our inspiration and through building on Rio’s Legacy, Mounties Care Cottage will be a place where children come to live, and not to die,” said Rio’s father, Ryan.
“I thank God for the Mounties and the GIANTS, and everyone there, for taking a leap of faith and supporting our aim to make a difference for the people of Western Sydney and regional NSW.”
The hospice, which will provide a home-like environment where children can receive respite, symptom management, and end of life care, is possible due to the collective support of GIANTS and Mounties members and the wider community.
Both the GIANTS and the Mounties will continue to raise funds for the project, with funds to be supplied through the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation.
The Mounties $13m commitment through the GIANTS Foundation partnership, marks the largest, single contribution SCHF has ever received.
“Around 18 months ago our players, members, fans, and donors got onboard this project to raise funds to build a hospice for children in Western Sydney, so we are really excited that we’ve helped to deliver the outcome, "General Manager of the GIANTS Foundation, Nici Andronicus said.
“This hospice is a great example of a community project that’s going to deliver vital services in Western Sydney. So we’re calling on businesses, sports team, community groups and families to lace up, join our team and be part of something special in helping our most vulnerable citizens, very sick babies and children and their families.”
“Throughout 2025 and beyond we are going to be hosting lots of fundraising and engagement activities for the community to get involved and bring their support to this important service in Western Sydney.
“That includes the 2025 City2Surf in August where we are excited about getting people signed up to run for a great cause.”
Find out more about joining the GIANTS Foundation, in partnership with Mounties and Rio’s Legacy, to walk, jog or run at the world’s biggest fun run, The City2Surf on 10 August here.
