Crowds flock to Love Your Sister fundraisers

SAMUEL Johnson has wrapped up two successful events in the Geelong region as part of his cancer charity Love Your Sister’s fundraising campaign, raising more than $50,000 for cancer research.

During a talk show event on Friday night at the Torquay Surf Life Saving Club and a Family Fun Day at the Geelong Racing Club on Sunday afternoon, the 2018 Australian of the Year shed a light on the emotional challenges and triumphs of his journey of forming the Love Your Sister charity with his late sister Connie and recounted funny stories and memories from his career in showbiz.

Both events saw Johnson encourage individuals and businesses to join him in his commitment to improving access to life-saving precision medicine for all cancer patients, regardless of their income, or where they are based.

“The fundraising across both events was absolutely bonkers with in excess of $50,000 being raised by the Geelong district community,” Johnson said.

“We sold out the event in Torquay on Friday night and then had a whopping 2,000 people turn up for the family fun day at Geelong Racing Club on Sunday.

“I’m absolutely speechless and still buzzing from the support from the local community and it was great to see children and parents alike so happy.”

The Torquay SLSC event was an instant classic, Johnson said, with plenty of laughs and good times among the sold-out crowd of 150.

On Sunday, Johnson and his charity partnered with Geelong based sports and wellbeing educator Proactivity for the Family Fun Day, but the major drawcard for the children was a full Ninja Warrior course, which had a massive queue all day.

Johnson was joined by one of the Ninja Warriors from TV to try for the quickest time on the challenging course.

The former Gold Logie winner was stoked to only finish eight seconds behind the professional ninja, but did concede he may have cheated.

The signature treasure hunt Johnson always does with children at his family fun day events was also a hit.

Johnson singled out the community of Colac and the Colac Auto Wreckers for their huge level of support.

“A large amount of the raffle items came from Colac with many local businesses getting on board,” he said.

“For the first time ever we raffled off a car, thanks to the Colac Auto Wreckers.

“The auction actually exceeded the price of the car in the actual market and all the funds raised went straight towards our charity.

“They also donated $6,000 on the side and managed the raffle stand all day.

“I can’t thank them enough for their support; it left all of us at Love Your Sister speechless.”

Donate to Love Your Sister by heading to loveyoursister.org