ASQ donates to Cancer Council

WHEN one of their workmates died from cancer last year, ASQ Garden and Landscape Eaglehawk employees bound together to raise money for research into the disease.

Last week, ASQ garden and landscape manager Terry Kempster presented Bendigo Relay for Life with a $10,570 donation.

Mr Kemspter said the death of their colleague affected everyone and the company is “motivated to do what we can for the community.”

“It’s pretty close to us, they were a long serving staff member up until the point he was receiving treatment and too ill to work,” he said. “At ASQ we try and assist with any fundraising we can.”

The money comes through donations as well as VIP ASQ shoppers, who nominate a charity for one per cent of their payment to go to.

Chair of Bendigo Relay for Life, Teresa Jones, said over $10,000 was an “unbelievable amount of money.”

“Having this is just amazing and I’d really love to thank Terry, ASQ and all the VIP customers whose one per cent comes to us,” she said.

Over the last two years, Relay for Life events have not been held as normal, and Ms Jones said money raised for cancer research has been down.

“The Relays across Victoria normally raise $3 million a year and they haven’t had that in the last two years,” she said.

The Bendigo Relay for Life team is looking forward to this year’s 10-hour event on Saturday, 27 August.

Ms Jones said while the Relay will take place in winter, participants will be able to warm up by doing laps of the La Trobe University athletics track, with music and the traditional candlelight ceremony to honour loved ones lost to cancer.

She said sponsorship is at an all-time high for the event, however she’d like to see more teams signed up. For more information head to bit.ly/3PymiX9.