By Pam Kiriakidis
Camp4Cancer is back in full swing, with tickets now on sale for a fun-filled weekend that also raises money for cancer research.
The camp will take place near Darraweit Guim, west of Wallan, on on November 11-13.
The non-profit organisation each year invites anyone to bring tents, swags, campers and caravans, engaging in a weekend of music, activities, auctions and food.
The most recent Camp4Cancer event in March raised more than $52,000 for The Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation.
Founder and president Ben Roarty, of Hidden Valley, started the event in 2015 with only 70 people participating, however over the years the event has grown to include more than 600 people, and word of the camp continues to spread.
“The event has become synonymous in the charity sector, because we put on such a good event, even the little kids get catered for up to the adults and elderly who want to listen to beautiful music over two days,” he said.
“We have volunteers ring us to join us, so we don’t have to reach out as much anymore.”
To organise the two-day weekend, Camp4Cancer partners with Darche, a major sponsor that offers access to sleeping bags, tents, durable swags and extensive prizes.
Bendigo Bank Wallan also provides grants for the camp each year to help with infrastructure and Hogan’s Hotel in Wallan provides food for volunteers to prepare in the kitchen.
Mr Roarty said every year the event progressed, with volunteers becoming wiser and smarter as more money was raised.
“We rely heavily on different businesses around the area to donate their goods and services to make our event as possible as possible,” he said.
BGGROUPAU is another major partnership that Mr Roarty is thankful for, as founder Benjamin Gregory and his team supports the music, staging, lighting and the social media content.
“He’s been a massive asset to us, helping us make it such a professional event, donating his professionalism to our event, it’s been absolutely phenomenal,” he said.
Over the years, Mr Roarty is constantly reminded how much people are involved through the Camp4Cancer’s merchandise, as he sees families and friends wearing beanies and hats.
“I’ve run into people wearing Camp4Cancer stuff, people I don’t even know or met,” he said.
He said nothing was better than creating memories close to home, while also dedicating time to a good cause.
“Having a camping event when its only five minutes out of Wallan, and you are able to have a weekend camping on a private property is such an amazing way to do it,” he said.
“We have a lot of surviving stories and that’s due to people raising money just like us and other community groups around the country. One person can make a difference.”
To book tickets to Camp4Cancer on Friday, November 11 to Sunday, November 13, people can visit events.humanitix.com/camp4cancer-november-2022.
