Cobram Barooga resident Rachel McKay and NCN Health communications coordinator Marissa Daly are on a mission to raise money for cancer treatment.
Alongside Shepparton’s Meena Malla and Raj Basavaraju, the two Cobram locals are hosting a community dinner event in Cobram called the Cobram Community Fundraiser – ‘Love Your Sister’.
The dinner will be held at the Cobram Civic Centre on Saturday, April 27 from 5.30pm and includes a three-course dinner, live entertainment, raffles, auctions, prizes and health information.
Local musicians Paul Vitullo and Linda Moreland from Me and the Girl, Nicky Goldsworthy and Andrew Wishart, who competed in XFactor in 2011, will provide live entertainment.
The group aims to raise $20,000 for the Australian Cancer Charity, Love Your Sister, and raise awareness of how and where the community can access preventative testing, treatment and support.
Australian actor and founder of the Love Your Sister Charity, Samuel Johnson, will speak at the event.
In 2023, the event organisers participated in the Goulburn Murray Community Fairley Leadership Program, which called on participants to take on a community project.
The dinner is being supported by all the major schools — Strathmerton Lions Club, Tungamah Lions Club, Katamatite Lions Club and Cobram Lions Club.
Individual community members have also offered to volunteer to help organise the night.
The Cobram Community Fundraising team is also seeking sponsors to donate items to the auction and raffle and thanks those organisations, businesses, and individuals who have already assisted.
Ms Daly hopes the event will help raise awareness of preventative treatment and support for those with cancer.
“We have seen too many of our community members adversely affected by cancer, our region is marked as high risk for cancer, we have a concerning downward trend in preventative testing, screening and follow up,” she said.
“Our team wants to raise awareness of cancer screening programs and the benefits of early diagnosis in the community. While we are at it, we thought we could raise a heap of money for a great cause also.”
Ms McKay hopes the event will help bring everyone together since lockdowns ended.
“We hope that attendees have a great time and have an awesome night out with their community, which they haven’t had for a long time because of COVID... and take away some health information and learn about preventative screening,” Ms McKay said.
Those seeking to go can purchase a corporate table of 10 for $1300 or a regular table of 10 for $1000.
Individual ticket sales are also available.
All proceeds go to Love Your Sister Australian Cancer Charity.
For more information or to sponsor the event, email rachelmarissacobramfundraiser@gmail.com or phone Rachel McKay on 0439 711 563 or Marissa Daly on 0419 874 019.
Tickets go on sale on Thursday, January 18 and can be purchased online or at the Cobram BP.