Leschenault Cricket Club memorialise seven-year-old girl at Ahlia’s Blue Stumps Day for charity RUN DIPG

The iconic green of the Leschenault Cricket Club will be swapped for baby blue this Saturday, in memory of a seven-year-old girl who lost her battle with cancer last year. Ahlia Williams, the niece of Leschenault first grade stalwart Thomas Buchanan and granddaughter of life member Peter Buchanan, died in November 2020 from diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma — the biggest killer of children from disease in Australia. The club will memorialise her at the first instalment of Ahlia’s Blue Stumps Day, with about $7000 raised for the charity RUN DIPG. Pads, stumps and bat grips of baby blue — Ahlia’s favourite colour — will be used throughout the day to raise awareness of the impact of the disease. The club has also auctioned 20 blue caps over the past four Thursdays, which have sold for about $300 on average. Club president Angelo D’Agostino said the support had blown away one of the club’s “cornerstone families”. “They are very appreciative of the support the club has given them through the whole ordeal,” he said. “For the family, now it is about getting the message out there about this disease and doing what they can to raise money.” RUN DIPG general manager Troy Bailey said the family and the club had been “invaluable” to the work the charity does. A cap signed by T20 World Cup hero Mitch Marsh, a ball signed by a number of WBBL players and a set of wicketkeeping gloves signed by Test legend Adam Gilchrist will also be auctioned at the club on Saturday night.