Dry July generosity supports wellness centre

COMMUNITY fundraising through the Dry July initiative will cover more than one-third of the Grampians Health Cancer Wellness Centre’s annual operating costs.

The Wellness Warriors Dry July team raised more than $30,000 for the organisation that supports local patients and their families.

The Wellness Ball, which is now in its fourth year, included more than 100 guests with live music, entertainment and special guest Billy Brownless.

Kelli Aggett founded the ball alongside her brother Joshua Ryan. She said the wellness centre has provided critical support.

“In 2012, when my youngest was just a few months old, I was diagnosed with stage four metastatic breast cancer, and four years later I faced ovarian cancer,” Ms Aggett said.

“Those were overwhelming times.

“The wellness centre became my safe place; somewhere I could take a breath, be myself, and find support not just for me, but for my whole family.

“That’s why I started the wellness ball, to pay it forward to other cancer fighters and bring the community together to raise the funds needed to keep this centre running.”

The wellness centre is funded entirely through community donations, and manger Simone Noelker said the community’s fundraising efforts show how much the centre is valued.

“Every service we provide at the wellness centre, from emotional wellbeing to physical recovery, is only possible because of community generosity,” she said.

“To think that one community-driven effort has raised over a third of our yearly costs is remarkable.

“It means more patients and families can continue accessing the support they need, free of charge, at a time filled with so much uncertainty.”