Last week, Thornton Community Group’s Hobby Hub hosted their Biggest Morning Tea with the help of Southern Cross Care, raising $1,672 for the Cancer Council.
After hosting a much smaller Biggest Morning Tea last year, President Jen Russell was inspired to plan a much larger event for 2024, with the idea to fundraise for this cause in particular prompted by a personal connection to the matter.
“I am a cancer survivor, and with early intervention, I am able to live to 71-years-old,” she said.
“It’s close to my heart, I lost my sister with breast cancer, but it touches everyone. Your neighbour, your family, your friends.”
According to Russell, it was incredibly important to support local when it came to their delicious spread, enlisting the help of small businesses, as well as some talented volunteers.
“We wanted to support our local businesses, so we went to Platform T8 for the sandwiches and wraps, and then some of our ladies, who like to bake, baked for this morning!” she said.
In addition to the Hobby Hub ladies, the event was attended by over 70 members of the local community.
Regular Hobby Hub attendee Dorothy Hutchison said that the event’s turnout was exciting and unprecedented, and just furthered what their group aims to do on a weekly basis – create connections within the community.
“If you don’t know anyone, or you have difficulty meeting people, you can just come here and start up a conversation,” Hutchison said.
At the event, the group also raffled off items created by its members, including artworks, knitted pieces and a handmade bear.
Russell couldn’t have been more pleased with the contributions of the attendees.
“The numbers are delightful,” she said.
“In these times, it is tough. Money is tough, difficult for everybody. The generosity really makes me smile.”
The event was also attended by Penrith MP Karen McKeown and Mayor Todd Carney.
“I just wanted to thank Jen and the rest of the team in getting everyone together, because part of my job is going around and seeing local organisations and what people do within those organisations, and it is probably one of the best parts of my job, coming out and seeing the work that you do,” Carney said.
“I do really want to thank you for your efforts and your drive to stamp out cancer within our communities, because the more we can raise, the more we can then fund research into cancer care to make sure that our loved ones live longer, and then hopefully to prevent cancer from taking the lives of many of our friends and family.”
Cassidy Pearce
Cassidy Pearce is a news and entertainment journalist with The Western Weekender. A graduate of the University of Technology Sydney, she has previously worked with Good Morning Macarthur and joined the Weekender in 2022.