TRAGIC LOSS: Jerry Lale with his children Lafoai and Eva, and cousin Tagisa. Picture: Mark Calleja Source: The Courier-Mail
IT was a ray of hope in the darkest hour for the Lale and Taufa families. Now they want to say thank you.
Jerry Lale, 32, lost 11 extended family members in a devastating house fire at Slacks Creek on August 24, 2011.
As he grieved for those who perished in the blaze, Socceroo Tim Cahill made a decision to help the family.
The former Everton player contacted a friend of Mr Lale with a generous offer.
"Tim got in touch with my mate who works in sports management and said he wanted to donate, but on the condition there was no media attention," he said. "He donated a match fee to our family, which was $10,000.
"He was very gracious in the way that he did it."
Mr Lale said he respected Cahill's request to keep the donation private, but feels that 18 months on, it's time to thank him publicly.
In a Twitter exchange on Tuesday, Mr Lale thanked the football player for his generosity, calling Cahill a man of deep conviction and humility.
Cahill sent an equally emotional reply a short time later: "It was my pleasure and it tore many hearts to see such a tragedy take place. It was from the heart brother."
Cahill, who is in Sydney preparing for next week's World Cup qualifier against Oman, said he was pleased he could make a difference at such a difficult time.
"When an event like that happens in our community, it's natural for people to want to help each other out," he said. "I'm happy that I could play a part in helping the family too."
Mr Lale said Cahill was already a hero to many of his friends and family.
Mr Lale hopes to one day shake the hand of the man who, along with many others, helped his family after the devastating blaze.
"Tim has suggested that maybe we could meet up some time," he said. "It would be an absolute highlight for our family to meet Tim when he next comes to town. We will always remember what he did for us."
Mr Lale said Cahill's gift was one of many the family received in the flood of support that followed the tragedy.
"People we don't even know were so generous," he said.
"We truly witnessed the Aussie spirit".
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