Community
23 May, 2025
Appeal target reached
ELEVEN new treatment chairs for cancer patients will soon be headed to Warrnambool thanks to the generosity of the local community.
Just two months ago, South West Healthcare launched its public campaign to raise $92,111 to replace the existing chairs – and late last week the appeal reached its target.
“This is such a wonderful achievement and we’re absolutely thrilled to have raised this amount in such a short time,” South West Healthcare’s manager of community partnerships, Suzan Morey said.
“We are always blown away by the generosity of our local community and again we thank everyone who has contributed towards the cost of these new chairs.”
The fundraising tally reached its target late last week with a donation of $6,059 from the Kiwanis Club of Warrnambool through its ‘Coins for Cancer’ initiative.
“This Kiwanis project began in 2011 when the husband of one of the club’s members was diagnosed with cancer and the 2008-established Peter’s Project Foundation was in the thick of raising $5 million for the community contribution towards the development of the region’s first cancer centre.”
Kiwanis club members distributed Coins for Cancer collection tins throughout Warrnambool and the south west and for almost 14 years member Janice Burns (often with the help of fellow member Ann Boyle) travelled regularly to exchange full cans for empty ones and banked the proceeds.
“Janice’s commitment to this project was outstanding,” Kiwanis’ secretary Diane Riordon said.
“Through Janice, $151,630 was raised for the Peter’s Project Community Support Centre on the ground floor of the South West Regional Cancer Centre.”
This incredible fundraising effort was celebrated last Monday afternoon when the Kiwanis club made its final two ‘Coins for Cancer’ donations.
The first was $6,059 towards the chemotherapy treatment chairs and a further $4,000 was donated to the Peter’s Project Community Support Centre for its everyday functioning.
Director of the Peter’s Project Foundation, Vern Robson, thanked the Kiwanis club members for their efforts over many years.
“This is a wonderful effort by this community group and I’m sure all patients who use the new chairs during treatment will appreciate the extra comfort,” Mr Robson said.
“We are fortunate to have such a wonderful facility here in Warrnambool, and such wonderful, dedicated staff.”
