Sydney’s Martin Place came alive with colour and hope on Friday August 27. The Sydney Kings came out in force on Daffodil Day to assist The Cancer Council to raise much-needed funds to find a cure for cancer.

The annual event in the centre of Sydney raises thousands of dollars from generous passers-by on their way to and from work, and during the lunch period, when a quality line up of performers, and of course the Sydney Kings, came out to play.

Parts of Martin Place resembled the streets of New York with the basketball hoop in place, and no shortage of would-be Sydney Kings lining up to challenge our players to a one-on-one shoot at the hoop, or an impromptu three-aside match.

Basketball has always been a brilliant spectator sport, but in the confines of the city, surrounded by tall buildings the hustle and bustle of the city slowed a little to watch the Sydney Kings in action on their make-shift court.

While raising money for a worthwhile cause was the order of the day, Daffodil Day is also a celebration of hope and of the lives who have lost the battle against the ubiquitous disease. One in two Australians will be touched by one form of cancer or another. Within the Sydney Kings family much loved and respected Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Mike Wrublewski OAM lost his personal battle with cancer in August 2009; and our own Ben Knight shared his thought with David Koch in an interview on Sunrise about his father who also died of cancer when Ben was just 13.

A Garden of Hope, near the Channel 7 studios was ablaze with colour – one daffodil for every person who had died from cancer in the past 12 months.

Far from being a subdued affair, the joy on everyone’s face was obvious. Those who had generously given their time as volunteers manned merchandising stands full with everything from daffodil pins to teddy-bears (all sold well); students from local schools collected funds from the city workers, all of whom gave generously; the Sydney Kings Lion and Dougal, the Daffodil Day bear, were popular with children, tourists, and a host of young women. They were clearly the most photographed celebrities on the day. Personalities who put in an appearance included David Koch, Melissa Doyle, Graham Ross, and Jason and Rebecca Stevens.

Thanks to everyone involved, especially the team form The Boulevard Hotel who kept the whole contingent going with their coffee kart. It was an early start, 4am for some, so coffee was very welcome throughout the day. They also raised quite a few dollars through the sale of coffee and merchandise.

Lastly, thanks to the Sydney Kings who woke up very early, and those who battled the lunchtime traffic to give so generously of their time to promote the generosity of spirit that is so much a part of the Sydney Kings, and for assisting to raise funds for the Cancer Council’s Daffodil Day.