Panthers help raise The Big Issue

6 December 2019

The Big Issue Sports Challenge heats up!

The South Adelaide Football Club will be playing in a different kind of contest this week, selling The Big Issue magazine to support vendors experiencing homelessness and disadvantage.

South Adelaide players in Keegan Brooksby and Emily Brockhurst took part in The Big Issue Sports Sales Challenge on Friday morning, hitting the streets to sell copies of The Big Issue Christmas Edition alongside vendors.

The contest is all part of a challenge to sell the most magazines and win The Big Issue's Sports Sales Challenge trophy. They'll also be competing against teams from AFL, cricket and soccer

The Big Issue CEO Steven Persson said the campaign aimed to shine a spotlight on hundreds of vendors selling The Big Issue on street corners around the country rain, hail or shine.

"Sport is an incredible way of bringing people together and strengthening communities," Mr Persson said.

"It's fantastic to see Keegan Brooksby and Emily Brockhurst from the South Adelaide Football Club out in Noarlunga donning the Big Issue vest alongside our vendors."

"Having the clubs participate in the selling challenge is a wonderful way for our vendors to reach to new customers and connect to their community."

"We are grateful for the clubs' participation and their support for people experiencing homelessness, disadvantage and marginalisation during this holiday season. I look forward to seeing which team will take home the coveted trophy this year!"

The challenge comes at an amazing time, with tomorrow marking one year since The Big Issue magazine launched in Newcastle.

Vendors buy copies of The Big Issue for $4.50 and sell them for $9, earning a meaningful income. More than 7000 vendors have sold The Big Issue since it launched in Australia 23 years ago, collectively earning $30 million.

The Big Issue Christmas Edition is on sale from 2-25 December. The bumper edition is eight pages longer than regular editions and features holiday wishes written by Big Issue vendors, an interview with Helen Mirren and a Christmas recipe from Donna Hay among much more.