A
UFC fighter and children’s charity ambassador
has been banned from visiting sick kids at a Perth
hospital because cage fighting is outlawed in Western
Australia.
Make-a-Wish
ambassador Soa ‘The Hulk’ Palelei had organized
a photo opportunity at Princess Margaret Hospital
to promote a Telethon fundraiser, which involved him
spending 24 hours on an ergo grinder.
38-year-old
Palelei’s son suffers from absence epilepsy.
Multimedia
Soa
'The Hulk' Palelei has been banned from a children's
hospital in Perth.
He
told Radio 6PR on Friday that he was ‘dumbfounded’
by the decision.
The
photo also involved rugby league champion Matt Fuller.
Fuller’s wife called Palelei to tell him he wasn’t
allowed to attend.
"I
was like 'really'? I was dumbfounded in a way,”
he said.
"You
want me to do a 24-hour grind, put my body on the
line for you, raise money for you guys, but you won't
let me see the kids?”
Mixed
Martials Arts isn’t banned in the state however
it remains the only place in Australia that outlaws
the UFC’s fighting enclosure known as the Octagon.
Palelei
felt the hospital should’ve done some research
on him to see all the charity work he had done in
the past.
Famous
pro wrestler-now-Hollywood actor is also an ambassador
for Make-A-Wish.
"I
was quite surprised but it is what it is... I don't
see why my sport is different to say if Danny Green
went in,” he said.
A
PMH spokeswoman told local media they decided to ban
"The Hulk" from the hospital because of
his association with UFC.
