A CHANCE look through his Instagram messages led to an act of kindness Canterbury-Bankstown backrower Adam Elliott has become renowned for.
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When his attention was drawn to what Bennett Powell was setting out to achieve in the Tour de Cure later this month, he wanted to know how he could help.
"I went into my Instagram and I had a message from Matt Attard in my message requests and I don't usually check them too often so luckily I did this time," Elliott said.
"He gave me the back story of Bennett with his intellectual disabilities and how he's completed Ironman and the upcoming challenge is the Tour de Cure and how he's trying to raise some money for that."
The result was Elliott then personally hand over some Bulldogs merchandise to Powell at the club's meet and greet at Town Green last Friday.
"You could tell how happy he was and I hope he raises some money for it because what he's doing is incredible," Elliott said.
The 25-year-old then signed the pair of boots he wore during the Bulldogs' 12-10 trial defeat to Canberra on Saturday to be auctioned off before the ride.
"I've got a really soft spot for things like this and I really love working with people with disabilities because my older brother James has autism," Elliott said.
"It's something I'm really proud of and love doing and as soon as I had a look at Bennett's backstory I knew it was going to be for a good cause.
"I guess instinct and a love for helping people out with disabilities drew me to do it; what he's doing is incredible and I don't think many able-bodied people would be able to complete what Bennett's doing."
Elliott admitted he didn't feel any added pressure to live up to a reputation created from being nominated for the Ken Stephen Medal in 2018.
The Ken Stephen Medal forms part of the NRL Community Awards, acknowledging some of rugby league's unsung community heroes for the tireless work they do for the game they love.
"It's part of the passion I have for that space and it's certainly something that more often than not I'm going to act on," he said.
"I'm not going to sit back and think I have a certain reputation to uphold. I'll help wherever I can."
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