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Echuca Toyota donates $30,000 to local groups

Respresentatives from Echuca Regional Health, Echuca-Moama Apex Club and Community Living and Respite Services were the recipients of the Echuca Toyota charity campaign. Photo by Lua Ikenasio

After 20 months of fundraising, Echuca Toyota has raised over $30,000 for three local organisations.

For every car sold, buyers could choose to donate $100 to either the Echuca Moama Apex Club, Community Living & Respite Services or the Echuca Regional Health Cancer and Wellness Centre.

Buyers were able to put $100 tokens into their preferred charity. Photo by Lua Ikenasio

Echuca Toyota’s dealer principal John Meritt said the dealership are happy to support the local groups.

“We’re very happy to be able to give out some much needed funds,” he said

“We see it as our duty to give back to the community. It’s much needed obviously with the [ERH] Cancer and Wellness Centre opening and we have had a longstanding relationship CLRS and Apex.

“For us as a business we just love to support and love to give back.”

The campaign began near the end of 2022 as a way to support local groups who have been unable to raise money on their own due to COVID-19.

Representatives from each group were presented a cheque on Monday, November 11.

John Merritt presented Mick Naismith, Brent Tonkin and Matt Davidson from the Apex Club a cheque of $4,600. Photo by Lua Ikenasio

Apex received $4,600, CLRS received $6,100 while the ERH received an overwhelming show of community support in the form of $19,900 donated.

Echuca Toyota's John Merritt presented CLRS chief executive Lea Taaffe with a $6100 cheque. Photo by Lua Ikenasio

ERH Director of Nursing Lyn Jeffreson said the ERH are grateful for the donation which will go directly to caring for those living with cancer.

John Merritt with Sarah Dixon and Lyn Jeffreson from the ERH, which has received a $19,900 donation. Photo by Lua Ikenasio

“This very generous donation will go directly towards providing supportive care for people in our community who are undergoing treatment and living with cancer,” she said.

“[The] ERH Cancer and Wellness Centre are extremely grateful to John and the Echuca Toyota team and especially to the community members who chose to donate to the Cancer and Wellness Centre through this initiative.”