Tyler Redway
A FUNDRAISER held at the Little Blue Wren managed to raise $1000 for the Mount Gambier Breast Cancer Awareness Group.
A large crowd attended in full support for the event, and patrons were offered a high-tea style selection of cakes, sandwiches and drinks while purchases made during the night contributed directly to the fundraiser.
The Bubbly Mummy owner and event organiser Becca Healey said she always knew she wanted to fundraise and wanted to find somewhere local to give back to the community.
“To know the funds are actually going to stay local was important for me,” Ms Healey said.
“We’re not in competition with each other, it’s about giving one another a leg up because that’s what it’s all about at the end of the day.”
In attendance were Breast Cancer Awareness Group members Jill Gilmore and Loraine Baron who said the group was getting more recognition and support from businesses as time went on.
“It’s just growing, initially we had our Pink Party and that was it, but now organisations are hearing about us and seeing the work we are doing with the bag donations and the lymphoedema project we have going on and I think they know it’s all going locally to our breast cancer patients so they prefer that,” Ms Gilmore said.
“A lot of people like to know it’s going to stay within the community and not be sent off somewhere else.”
Ms Gilmore said “word of mouth” in Mount Gambier was becoming strong enough to spread the word for these events, which she said were a great way to bring people together.
“If people are willing to donate then it’s great but if not then it’s about getting them out there mixing with the community,” she said.
“You do need a little bit of advertising but it only takes a few people to go off and get a small group of friends and so on.
“This year it’s getting busier and busier so when this came out of the blue we thought this is something different and would be wonderful.”
Ms Gilmore said she had no prior experience with Little Blue Wren or Ms Healey but said it felt as if she had “known them forever”.
“We’re definitely going to benefit from this so now we would like to spread the word about these guys, it’s a two-way thing so we can support each other,” she said.
“This is their first time for an event like this so for a first I would say they have done a pretty good job.”