Subi People - Paul Vines

Ever since arriving at the Subiaco Football Club in 2002, Paul Vines has been a person that has had a profound impact on the club, and seen the club have a profound impact on his life.

 

A hard running and skilful midfielder, Vines played 45 games in four seasons with the club, the highlight being his Simpson Medal win as the best player of Subiaco’s 2004 Grand Final triumph over Claremont.

 

While injuries to an extent limited how much of an impact Vines could have had on Subiaco on-field, he has continued to show his love and appreciation for the club that took a chance on him, remaining highly involved and motivated within the club through to today.

 

Now an assistant midfield coach working under senior coach Beau Wardman and midfield coach Jason Bristow, Vines continues to have an impact working with the developing members of the Subiaco league team.

 

A regular fixture around the club, Vines will be a notable absence during May, however it is for a very good reason, Vines will take part in the Tour De Cure.

 

Starting on May 3, the Tour De Cure will see Vines ride from Sydney to Geelong, arriving on May 11 and having covered 1287 kilometres and ridden with 13,835 metres of elevation.

 

Tour De Cure aims to fund cancer research, support and prevention projects across Australia, with the work since 2007 through a Be Fit, Be Healthy, Be Happy Schools Awareness Program resulting in over 110,000 kids make healthy lifestyle choices that are aimed to prevent cancer.

 

For Vines, the Tour De Cure has significant meaning after losing his mother to breast cancer when she was just 49.

 

In April 2008, Vines welcomed his first son Jack into the world, on that same day, he was told by his father that his mother’s cancer was terminal and they did not know how long she would have left to live.

 

81 days later on June 19^th, 2008, Vines mother lost her battle with cancer after a two year fight.

 

Remaining with Vines is the reality that his mother only got the chance to see a photo of her first grandchild.

 

The meaning of a footy club and the family of a footy club was shown to Vines as he found out the news of his mother’s passing.

 

“I walked into the club on a Thursday night training and was preparing for training when Footy Manager Andrew McBean came into the meeting room and told me my dad was on the phone and needed to speak urgently,” Vines said.

 

“It was the look in his eye that gave me the indication that the phone call was on something serious.”

 

“From that moment on, the support of the coaching staff and players, wearing the arm bands a few weeks later, it always stayed with me and resonated how important this club is as a family.”

 

Vines is now calling on donations to help him reach a personal target of $15,000 for the Tour De Cure.

 

All donations made for the Tour De Cure are fully deductible with the cause a deductible gift recipient.

 

As of February Vines has raised over $1,500 for the Tour, but is calling on more support to help reach his final target.

 

“The importance of finding a cure, ensuring that other families don’t have to endure what I went through is really important to me,” Vines said.

 

“Any donation that can be made, no matter how big or small, helps me achieve a bit towards my target and ultimately what the Tour De Cure is all about.”

 

The Tour De Cure has so far raised over $30 million in funding to help support cancer and has an ambitious target to double this to $60 million over the next two years.

 

While Vines has been used to the rigors of semi-professional training standards with Subiaco over the past decade and a half, he recognises that this pursuit will be the most strenuous he has undertaken.

 

“I think it is that fact that it is nine days, with over 100 kilometres of riding each day, along with all the climbing that makes it pretty daunting,” Vines said.

 

“While it’s daunting, the mental and physical pain won’t compare to the emotional pain that I and everyone that has to suffer the loss of a loved one to cancer.”

 

Knowing the Paul Vines that Subiaco knows, he will do it with pride.

 

You can show your support for Paul by making a donation through the following link:

 

 https://www.tourdecure.com.au/profile/?memberId=87028&tourId=1018