A Night of Football, Community and Hope

The Footy Show Grand Final isn’t just about footy, it’s also about heart. Each year, the show partners with My Room Children’s Cancer Charity for a live telethon, raising vital funds to support kids and families facing cancer.

This year’s event was nothing short of extraordinary. Viewers tuned in for laughs, music, and football fever, but they also dug deep for a cause that matters. With celebrities manning the phones, inspiring stories on screen, and donations flowing in from every corner of Australia, the 2025 My Room Telethon set a new record.

A Record-Breaking Result

The generosity of footy fans and the wider community delivered a stunning outcome. In 2025, the telethon raised $6,075,542.68, the highest total in its history. That figure surpasses the $5.24 million raised in 2024 and proves that the momentum behind My Room’s mission is only growing stronger. Long-term partner The Lott added to the milestone by donating $100,000, marking its seventh consecutive year of support. Altogether, the telethon has helped raise more than $25 million across the past decade, showing the enormous impact of a community united behind one goal.

My Room’s Impact Over the Past Year

The funds raised at the telethon fuel year-round achievements, and 2025 has been a landmark year for the organisation. One of the most significant developments was the launch of the My Room Children’s Cancer Charity Laboratory at Hudson Institute. Backed by a five-year, $2.25 million commitment, this lab-led by Associate Professor Jason Cain, is the first of its kind in Australia, marking a bold step forward in charity-funded childhood cancer research.

At the same time, My Room has continued to ensure that families and children receive practical support during their cancer journey. At Monash Children’s Cancer Centre, the charity has funded allied health positions such as physiotherapy, speech pathology, occupational therapy, and psychology, ensuring that care extends beyond just the medical frontline. Families have also been supported with travel assistance, accommodation, and help with essential daily costs, easing the burden during their toughest battles.

Efficiency remains at the heart of My Room’s model. The organisation directs 95 cents of every donated dollar straight into research, clinical care, family support, and medical equipment, keeping overheads lean so that donations have maximum impact. Since its founding in 1993, My Room has raised more than $30 million, transforming what began as a grassroots movement into a powerful force for change in the fight against childhood cancer.

Looking Forward

The 2025 Grand Final Telethon wasn’t just a television event, it was proof of what happens when sport, entertainment, and generosity unite. Every donation moves us closer to a future where no child has to face cancer, and the funds raised this year will go directly into supporting families, driving groundbreaking research, and building hope.

As the footy season wraps up, My Room’s work continues. The wins achieved on the field may fade with time, but the victories being fought in hospitals and research labs will have a lasting impact. Because when it comes to childhood cancer, the most important wins aren’t on the scoreboard, they’re in the lives of children and families who now have more reasons to hope.