Raffle raises thousands for Wellness Centre

BARRY Plant Real Estate’s cancer wellness raffle has raised more than twenty-one thousand dollars for the Wellness Centre at the Ballarat Regional Integrated Cancer Centre.

All ticket sales were donated to the centre thanks to prize donations from local businesses.

John Bourke, the manager of patient services at Grampians Health Ballarat, won first prize which was a week in the French countryside.

Mr Bourke manages clerical staff in the emergency department, admissions and day procedure unit and has worked at the hospital for the last three years.

Before this, he worked for nearly four decades as the manager of the Regent Cinema and in his time there he held many movie screening fundraisers for charities.

“When I started with Grampians Health, I didn’t realise what was involved and what goes on behind the scenes,” said Mr Bourke.

“Often people will come into the emergency department, and they may have to wait for hours to be seen.

“While this can be frustrating, I’m sure if people knew the incredible work that our staff do, in all our departments, they would support fundraising at the hospital.”

Mr Bourke has firsthand experience with the importance of providing support to people through initiatives like the Wellness Centre.

“My granddaughter is only 18 months old, and she has a neuroblastoma around her aorta,” he said.

“When she was diagnosed, we were so grateful for all the people who reached out to help us.

“It’s the same as the work that our Wellness Centre does, without that support, you just can’t get through a diagnosis.”

Steve Medwell, program director of cancer services at Grampians Health, thanked the support of sponsors and said the raffle will fund one third of the Wellness Centre’s work for next year.

“When you come here to BRICC it’s about the whole model of care and that does create a point of difference for our patients, we provide a different service,” he said.