Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
For passionate West Coast Eagles supporter and multiple sclerosis fighter Shannan Ferraro, the recently announced Eagles AFLW partnership goes far beyond a sporting sponsorship.
WA neurological services provider MSWA announced an official partnership with the Eagles AFLW team ahead of last Sunday’s season opener between St Kilda and Carlton.
Ms Ferraro, who has been accessing support from MSWA for 30 years and supported the blue and gold even longer, said this made her feel truly seen and supported.
“MSWA is right with me, they help me out with everything. They help me go to the toilet, they cook meals for me – they understand me,” the Treeby local said.
“At MSWA, I’ve found a real sense of community and support through attending Connect, so I’m excited to see what comes next and the opportunities this partnership could create across WA.
“I love (the new partnership). They’ve helped me so much with everything, so it’s great.”
After attending primary school with West Coast life member and dual premiership winner Chris Waterman, Ms Ferraro now enjoys cheering for his son Jake as he continues the AFL legacy.
“I’ve been supporting the West Coast Eagles for a long time. It’s exciting to see MSWA and the AFLW joining forces, bringing together two important parts of my life,” she said.
Ms Ferraro got a private viewing of an Eagles AFLW training session last month, and said she can’t wait to cheer on the girls from home as they commence the 2026 season.
The partnership is also particularly relevant for women’s health, as research shows three out of every four people diagnosed with MS in Australia are female.
MSWA is a non-profit organisation providing vital support for people living with severe neurological conditions, including MS, stroke, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, motor neurone disease, acquired brain injury and other conditions afflicting the brain and central nervous system.
By championing an elite women’s sporting team, MSWA is boosting visibility and awareness for those impacted by such conditions.
“With neurological conditions affecting WA residents in every corner of the state, MSWA has long been committed to ensuring its services and support reach beyond the metropolitan area,” MSWA chief executive officer Melanie Kiely said.
“The AFLW Eagles’ community program has already established a strong presence in regional and remote Western Australia, with the team’s work in the East Pilbara reflecting a shared commitment to reaching communities where access to services and support can be genuinely difficult to come by.”
The West Coast Eagles AFLW team will take on the GWS Giants this Sunday at ENGIE Stadium to begin their season.
