Cancer patients living in the Hawkesbury are set to have access to oncology treatment on their doorstep thanks to the vision of a group of local business men and women.
Hawkesbury Living has established the Hawkesbury Living Cancer Foundation to bring cancer treatment to the district for the hundreds of residents who regularly travel to receive care.
Richmond Club group CEO Kimberley Talbot and Club chairman Dave Butler said the Club had a vision to provide oncology treatment to cancer sufferers in the Hawkesbury, so they don't have to travel to other hospitals.
"We have a large number of people in the Hawkesbury who regularly travel to Nepean and Westmead Hospitals, and further afield to receive cancer treatment," Ms Talbot said.
"Pensioners can pay up to $45 each way in transport fees just to get them to their closest hospital for treatment.
"We are proposing through the Hawkesbury Living Cancer Foundation to bring oncology treatment to the Hawkesbury so residents can be treated locally, causing less disruption to the lives of their families and themselves."
The foundation was developed in part as a tribute to Erik Hausoul, the Richmond High School student who recently died from the rare cancer osteosarcoma.
Richmond Club, together with a large number of Hawkesbury businesses, rallied around Erik and his family to raise funds to send the 17-year-old to Germany for treatment not available in Australia.
Sadly Erik succumbed to the aggressive cancer, however, Ms Talbot said it was one of his dying wishes to see the foundation established, of which he was the founding patron.
"He wanted this foundation to, in part, help raise awareness about osteosarcoma, and also to help bring valuable research and much needed equipment to the local area," Ms Talbot said.
To kick start the foundation, Richmond Club, together with Evergreen Turf, Dad and Dave's Turf Supplies and Flemming Golf, will run a charity race day on February 5.
Ticket sales to the corporate function centre have already sold out, with 380 people set to enjoy a day of fine food and superb racing in the name of a worthy cause.
With ticket sales and the expected proceeds from raffles and auctions, Hawkesbury Race Club (HRC) sponsorship and marketing manager Vivienne Leggett estimated the found- ation could be handed a cheque for as much as $30,000.
Victorian-based Evergreen Turf has spent the past few years conducting much of its business in the Hawkesbury, including supplying all the replacement turf to Randwick race track after World Youth Day.
Racing area specialist for Evergreen, Peter Manning, said he wanted to get involved in giving back to the community he'd come to love, and had followed Erik's story in The Gazette.
"It seemed obvious this was a cause we had to get involved in," he said.
"Together with Graeme Colless from Dad and Dave's Turf Supplies and Kirk Flemming from Flemming Golf, both of whom I've worked with extensively during the past few years, we've organised a race day program to raise money for the foundation.
"We've sourced sponsors for the races, and we're in the process of organising raffle prizes and auction items."
Mr Manning said he hoped to see hundreds of people make their way to the Hawkesbury track on February 5 and show their support for the legacy of Erik and all cancer patients in the Hawkesbury.
"We're urging people to dig deep on the day by buying raffle tickets and bidding on auction items to help us give as much money as possible to the Hawkesbury Living Cancer Foundation," Mr Manning said.
Richmond Club is looking for residents who have an interest in promoting Hawkesbury Living Cancer Foundation to sit on the foundation's board. Interested parties can apply to the Richmond Club board of directors. Call the Club on 4578 1144 for more information.
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