'Helping each other day by day': Footy family rallies with Devils

Few clubs can be more thankful for the support of the rugby league community in recent times than Gympie Devils.

Clubs around the Sunshine Coast rallied behind their rivals this week to join Gympie in paying their respects to 14-year-old Devils player Levi Hanna, who passed away days after suffering serious injuries when he was struck by a car northeast of Gympie on February 1.

Levi played at the club from Under 8s through to Under 14s and was much loved by his teammates and so many others around the club.

The ultimate sign of community spirit shone through when a number of clubs lit up their grounds to show their support for the much-loved player, while others held moments of silence at training sessions this week.

More support is flowing in for another Devil in need.

Khan Thoroughgood has been battling bone cancer in his right leg, but despite a course of chemotherapy, will need to have the limb amputated in a bid to prevent the cancer spreading.

The 15-year-old, who also races speedway cars, now has a long battle ahead to recover.

Now the club is on a mission to increase fundraising support for Khan’s surgery and a prosthetic leg to give him the best quality of life possible.

Gympie Devils president Andrew Noy said it was overwhelming to see so much support for Levi and Khan from their teammates and other people around the club and the rugby league community.

“The support comes from everywhere at times like these. It reminds you why you get involved in the sport. It’s not all about getting out there and kicking a footy around, it’s about the family that league represents,” he said.

“We’re just helping each other day-by-day. It’s devastating.”

Caboolture Junior Rugby League Club contacted the Devils with the idea to light up their fields to pay respect, with Noy blown away by the gesture.

“I thought it was a brilliant idea, and a fair few clubs joined in on it, which was excellent. We may be enemies on the field but it’s still a family orientation, even when they’re your rivals.

“Rivalry goes out the window when something like this happens and gives you a sense of who you’ve got around you and why you’re there.”

Noy said the club would continue to do anything they could to support both Levi’s family, Khan and his family, and anyone else in the Devils family who fell on hard times.

He also made special mention of former Devils president Chris Gablonski, who previously coached Levi, for going “above and beyond” supporting people around the club in such a difficult time, as well as QRL Central wellbeing operations manager Ryan Charles.