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.<\/p>\n
Last week, ASQ garden and landscape manager Terry Kempster presented Bendigo Relay for Life with a $10,570 donation.<\/p>\n
Mr Kemspter said the death of their colleague affected everyone and the company is \u201cmotivated to do what we can for the community.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s pretty close to us, they were a long serving staff member up until the point he was receiving treatment and too ill to work,\u201d he said. \u201cAt ASQ we try and assist with any fundraising we can.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Chair of Bendigo Relay for Life, Teresa Jones, said over $10,000 was an \u201cunbelievable amount of money.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHaving this is just amazing and I\u2019d really love to thank Terry, ASQ and all the VIP customers whose one per cent comes to us,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Relays across Victoria normally raise $3 million a year and they haven\u2019t had that in the last two years,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
The Bendigo Relay for Life team is looking forward to this year\u2019s 10-hour event on Saturday, 27 August.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n