Teatime funds to FECRI

BALLARAT North’s Midlands Terrace Retirement Village has raised hundreds of dollars for the Fiona Elsey Cancer Research Institute.

Midlands Terrace Social Committee chair Dorothy McDonald said about 50 residents contributed to a recent morning tea in their community centre, where they raised $815.

“Supporting this local organisation is something that’s been important to the residents here for a long time,” she said.

“Because people are passionate about the cause, and so many of our lives have been touched by cancer in some way, it’s not a difficult thing to raise a bit of money for.

“Having lived to our age, we’ve naturally had cancer, or had people around us with cancer, and we need to care for each other, be kind and look out for one other.”

FECRI researcher Dr Sharon Olsen and PhD candidate Tamsin Wesley visited Midlands Terrace earlier in the week to speak with residents about how the Institute operates, share afternoon tea, and receive the donation.

“Midlands Terrace’s donation will go into our pool of funds and is incredibly important. Our visit today reminds us, and encourages us, that what we’re doing is making a difference,” Dr Olsen said.

“We wouldn’t exist without these donations. From the very early days of the Institute, Fiona Elsey’s mum Gail would sell cakes at a cake stall, and every little thing adds up.

“We need millions of dollars to exist, which all comes from donations and philanthropy. Ballarat is one of the most generous communities, and we wouldn’t exist without it.”