THERE are some things you need to know about Ricky Thomas Ponting
Ponting will shed more tears over the kids in Westmead Children's Hospital than his personal disappointment at losing an Ashes series. His "12,000-and-something" Test runs are of less significance than the $5 million-plus he has raised for the Children's Cancer Institute of Australia
Failing to get his name on the honour board at Lord's is inconsequential given these words -- The Ricky and Rianna Ponting Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory -- are on the door of the research facility at the University of NSW.
His fund-raising efforts under the banner of the Ponting Foundation are overlooked but they are real, genuine and important. His Run Ricky Run program this summer will allow people to sponsor him for every run he scores. All proceeds will go to families of children fighting against cancer.
"Talking to the families, the doctors, especially the kids, hearing their stories, reading the submissions, you can't do enough for people like that," Ponting said during the Australian team's pre-season camp at Coolum.
"We had one a while ago, five children in the family, three have been diagnosed with cancer and one has already passed away.
"You just can't do enough to help them. We're doing the best we can. I need to balance my cricket, the captaincy, the team-related stuff, our own family and the foundation. I think we're doing it pretty well."
Ponting explained how he first became involved with the foundation.
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