Cricket club raises more than $20,000 for local family

Crowds also enjoyed a special visit from Santa and the Grinch in a fire truck escorted by the Cobram CFA.

The fundraiser was organised for Cooper Betts, 12, who has been a part of the Cobram Cricket Club for almost four years and was recently diagnosed with leukaemia.

Cooper is currently undergoing treatment in Melbourne and was unable to attend the event, but his dad, Matt, and brothers, Jackson and Oscar, were there.

Cooper’s dad, Matt Betts, said he was “overwhelmed” by how the whole town had gotten behind them.

“We are so thankful to everyone and the whole community ... it's very humbling,” he said.

Cobram Cricket Club president Manny Artavilla said the turn-out at the fundraiser was “unbelievable”.

At last count, the club was pretty confident it had raised more than $20,000 for the family.

“It was bigger than what we thought it was going to be, it was just amazing ... we’re so lucky to live in a little town that can do this stuff,” Mr Artavilla said.

“I had Matt’s mum give me a hug and shed a little tear, and she gave me a thank you and I said, ‘Well, we're just doing our little part.’”

The Berrigan and Deniliquin cricket clubs also banded together to raise money for the Betts family, collectively donating over $800.

Mr Artavilla said it was an “amazing effort”, and “mind-blowing” to see how everyone had rallied.

“It’s great to see how the cricket community is sticking together,” he said.