Tea-time fundraiser boosts BRICC

THE Ballarat Regional Integrated Cancer Centre has benefited from a Biggest Morning Tea fundraiser hosted by the Rotary Club of Ballarat.

Held at the Ballarat Golf Club last week, Rotarians, family and friends enjoyed cakes and cuppas raising $1000.

Maureen Payne encouraged the Rotary Club of Ballarat to run the morning tea.

Mrs Payne has been receiving cancer treatment at BRICC since she was diagnosed in February of 2020. Many members of her husband’s Club, and their inner circles, have also recently been touched by the disease.

“I had surgery in March, the day before our first lockdown, and I was one of those people who did all the treatment by myself. It was very difficult,” she said.

“I had chemotherapy for three months, another lot for three months, a break, radiotherapy for three months, and I finished on the 23rd of December. I’m on a further treatment now to prevent that cancer from reoccurring for five years.

“It’s very lonely having cancer. There’s so much treatment and so much to go through, so all of the ancillary Wellness Centre services that BRICC offers help the person beyond the patient. Raising money for that is excellent.”

Since her diagnosis, Mrs Payne has had one “biggest message” to share; get screened. She hoped the Rotary fundraiser would be an important awareness-generator, reminding people to get tested.

“I was picked up by a breast screen…another friend’s cancer was picked up by bowel screening. We need to catch and cure these things before they’re terminal,” she said.