THE Biggest Morning Tea for Kilmore generated an outstanding $4000 donation for the Cancer Council Victoria, with over 100 guests including a guest speaker and sponsors coming together at Trackside on Sunday.
Romsey resident Seamus Flagg was diagnosed with a Ewings Sarcoma at the tender age of 11.
It was a blessing in disguise when his parents took him to see the doctor for X rays about his sore thumb following a play fight with his older sister.
Within the space of a week, specialist chemo treatment cycles commenced and changed the next year of their lives.
“It’s not just the diagnosis that affects you,” he said.
“The hardest part was seeing my parents walk into the waiting room to tell me I had cancer. I’m not a parent, but I can’t imagine what it’s like to have to tell a child that they have cancer.
“The Cancer Council puts an emphasis on [the fact] that each cancer journey is unique. There is an emotional burden, a financial burden… the impacts of the medicine… the impacts of the complications along the way and the change in [everyone’s] routines.
“It’s important to remember that for the people around the person with cancer.”
Fourteen years after his recovery, Mr Flagg is emotionally resilient and a patient, loving partner to fiancé Brooke Jordan, and he volunteers with the Cancer Council Victoria and Peter McCallum hospital.
The role takes up around two hours a week and in addition to public speaking, entails reviewing literary resources for cancer sufferers and their support networks.
“I don’t let my past dictate my future, days like today are so important,” Mr Flagg said.
Organisers Gaye Logie and Gail Wood are humbled by the local support.
“We couldn’t do this without our sponsors,” Ms Logie said.
“And to all the people who have attended today, thank you. We couldn’t do this without you.”
A special thank you went to London Marts’ Marjorie Cornfoot and Pauline Ryan for their continuous support and to sponsors Kilmore Trackside, Kilmore Ford and Toyota, and Briah Mae Hair and Beauty store for generous donations.
Fourteen lucky guests each took home a lucky door prize donated by Kilmore Celebrations and over 30 raffle prizes were donated by local businesses including Kemps Bakery, Kilmore Discount Chemist Centre, Broadford Terry White Chemmart, Skin Purrfect Gifts, Viive Skin Care, Just Me Patsy, Southside Stockfeeds, Kilmore Wellness Centre, Booteek Shoes, Kilmore Arlo Hair, Sass Hair and Beauty, Fergusson Plarre, Buds and Branches, EQ Saddlery Kilmore, McDonalds Kilmore, Gray’s Quality Meats, Pat Croke, Nolene Menzies and Susan Lim-Homewares.
Wallan’s Biggest Morning Tea
The Wallan Circle of Friendship held their 25th Biggest Morning Tea earlier this month raising $2,500 at the Wallan Neighbourhood House.
Over 120 guests enjoyed a fantastic assortment of homemade food and a warm community atmosphere.
Many of those went home with prizes all generously donated by local businesses including Chemist Discount Centre Wallan, Coles Wallan, Direct Chemist Outlet Wallan, Hogan’s Hotel, Kilmore Car and Truck Tyres, Modern Car Care Kilmore and Nestlé Broadford.
The Biggest Morning Tea is held annually across May and June, and it’s a major fundraiser for the Cancer Council.
Profits raised are changing people’s lives with a successful outcome for two out of every three patients, but there is still work to do to beat the most prevalent breast cancers, prostate cancers and bowel cancers.
Anyone can host an event to help eliminate cancer, visit cancer.org.au/australias-biggest-morning-tea and follow the prompts.
