Family fundraiser goes above and beyond

GERRI’S Journey reached its conclusion on Saturday night, with an auction wrapping up the Stevens family’s fundraising efforts.

In March this year, Leigh Stevens was joined by his brother and sister to walk the Goldfields Track from Ballarat to Bendigo to raise money for the Leukemia Foundation in honour of his mum, Gerri Stevens, who died of cancer in November 2020.

Mr Stevens said the COVID-19 pandemic pushed both the walk and auction night back, but the journey was finally complete.

“Emotionally it’s been difficult to be honest,” he said. “We wanted to get it done, but we’re here now and excited for the night.”

Though the extension of the fundraiser was beyond his control, Mr Stevens said it meant they were able to raise more money and awareness.

Earlier his month, the round five Bendigo Football Netball League matches between Kangaroo Flat and Kyneton were played in honour of Gerri Stevens.

“That event raised another $6500 for our tally,” Mr Stevens said. “We’ve been able to raise a bit more money and awareness, but we are looking forward to wrapping it all up.”

Mr Stevens said prior to the auction, his family had raised about $65,000, with about $25,000 worth of items up for bidding. His original goal was just $2000.

“For me, it just reiterates the fact that when someone is in need, the Bendigo community pulls together,” he said.

“Mum was quite well known, especially in Kangaroo Flat, so I think a lot of it is we knew her we want to do something, but a lot of it is also, it’s the right thing to do.

“We can raise some money here for a really good cause so families going through what we went through are supported more, treatments improve. It blows me away how much support we’ve had.”