The greyhound family is a big one, with a big heart. Owners, trainers, breeders, the countless catchers and kennel hands, even the mug punter; it’s a community that knows how to support its own.

Such is the spirit that has moved Anakie trainer Sean Cachia to help a bloke he hasn’t even met.

Chris Watts is the son of a former trainer, and friend of the sport, Garry. He’s 37, and lives in Anakie with his wife Courtney and kids Mason (11), Ruby (5) and Kade (2).

He’s also just been diagnosed with inoperable stage four bile duct cancer.

It just so happens that the link between Chris and Sean is that their kids go to kindergarten together, and one day Sean spotted a flyer up at the kinder for a fundraiser to help Chris; ‘Wattsy’s Big Bash’. That’s all it took for the trainer to move to take action.

Sean decided to offer a 50% share of one his pups to be auctioned at the big bash. He told RSN Central’s Gareth Hall the dog, named ‘Chase’, is about 12 months away from racing. “There’s really no extra cost to the winning bidder and they’ll get a clear 25% of anything it wins.” He calculates the value of the dog to be around $4000.

Chase is just one of the offerings being auctioned on the day. Geelong Greyhound Racing club has also donated dinner for ten – with drinks – at the club.

With the support of the Lara and Anakie communities, ‘Wattsy’s Big Bash’ is being held at the Anakie Football Club, in De Motts Road, on Saturday 5 October from 1pm. A family ticket is just $30, which includes unlimited kids. There’s also a ‘Wattsys Big Bash’ Facebook page.

There’ll be food vans, music, face painting for the kids, a silent auction and more, with all sales and profits donated to the Big Bash Fund, to give Wattsy, Courtney, Mason, Ruby and Kade a bit of a hand in a tough time.

It’s going to be a great day for the whole family, which is only right, because that’s what we are in the greyhound world.

Family.