[author]Chris Dobney[/author]
The NSW Cancer Council raised more than $12,000 in far northern NSW as a result of its Pink Ribbon Day last week.
And Cancer Council NSW Far North Coast community relations coordinator Kellie Pinkerton says that’s only the tip of the iceberg.
‘That figure is only for sales of our merchandise around Pink Ribbon Day,’ she told Echonetdaily.
‘On top of that, the Nomads event in Byron Bay netted about $660 and the Lismore Rotary’s Pink Concert at Southern Cross University brought in about $2000.
‘We expect to have a final figure by next month.’
But our Northern Rivers generosity didn’t stop there.
Daffodil Day raised a further $84,000 in the region alone and all-up last year the far north coast group raised an incredible $800,000.
Grants available
Rather than taking that money back to headquarters, the Cancer Council’s policy is to contribute dollar for dollar. This saw $1.9 million expended in the region last year.
One project that received funding from the Cancer Council was the Ballina markets.
A grant from the group has provided a large marquee enabling extra shade for the East Ballina Lions Club’s Café Under the Trees.
East Ballina Lions Club spokesperson Dawn Sword has said that friends and families are definitely staying longer under the shade to eat, drink and network and the Café Under the Trees has now become a ‘feature of the market’.
The Cancer Council is inviting community groups from across the region to apply for grants of up to $3,000 to help fund programs that educate, promote and support cancer activities in their area. It could be related to skin cancer prevention, it may be to encourage the prevention or detection of cancer, support people affected by cancer, or even cancer research.
Closing date for applications is Wednesday 9 November, so get your skates on.
For enquiries about the program or to request an application package, contact Emily Pettitt on (02) 6627 0304 or email [email protected].