General News
27 April, 2023
Kettle on for annual cancer fundraiser
Setting the table for its annual fundraiser, the Maryborough Senior Citizens Club will host its seventh Morning Tea for Cancer next week — with over $20,000 already donated to the local oncology department since the event’s inception. Brewing...
Setting the table for its annual fundraiser, the Maryborough Senior Citizens Club will host its seventh Morning Tea for Cancer next week — with over $20,000 already donated to the local oncology department since the event’s inception.
Brewing a charitable attitude among the community, the club will raise money for Maryborough District Health Service’s (MDHS) oncology unit by organising an auction on the day, as well as raffles and sales tables with plants, jams and coat hangers available to buy.
Inspired by the Cancer Council’s decades old event, Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea, Maryborough Senior Citizens Club president Veronika Miles said the group’s initiative was focused on localising benefits.
“It’s nice to do something for the community. Everybody has been touched by cancer and when the idea of the Morning Tea was brought up, the people here wanted to do it but they wanted it to stay local,” she said.
“I went to MDHS and checked everything out and then we decided the money would go to them.
“They’ve already bought things to make anybody who is going through chemotherapy comfortable — that’s what it’s for, to raise money for the local community.”
Over the years, funds between $20,000 to $30,000 have been donated to the MDHS oncology ward — leading to the addition of a wig library, blankets, chairs and other important equipment.
“When we first started, we collected around $1800 and then we built up the funds over the last seven years — we’ve gotten a lot of support from the community,” Veronika said.
“This time around, with that support, we’d like to raise at least $4000 and last year we had close to 90 people attend the event but this time it’ll be nice if numbers went up.
“We’re hopeful that we can get over a hundred people here.”
With some local businesses and organisations already on board, Veronika is encouraging all residents to attend.
“[People should come] to support their own community. Everybody’s got at least one family member or themselves that cancer has affected and if we can’t do something for somebody else, that’s a shame,” she said.
“I just think it’s about giving back and no matter what age you are, you can do something for the community.”
The Morning Tea for Cancer will be held from 10 am onwards next Wednesday, May 3 at the Maryborough Senior Citizens Club, on the corner of Alma and Inkerman streets.
Entry is $5 and the event is open to everybody, not just seniors.