Tropical trek to raise money for Hunter research into premature birth

BY DAKOTA TAIT

A seven-day trek is setting off across Costa Rica this Friday to raise money for Hunter research into premature births.

Borne HMRI is a collaboration between the Hunter Medical Research Institute and the UK initiative Borne, with the aim of finding answers for what causes preterm birth, and how to prevent it.

Former Wallaby Captain Dean Mumm helped found the local branch four years ago - he and wife Sarah have lost four children to pre-term birth.

"Would you walk across the country for your children?" he said. "We're a very literal group, it seems."

"You would walk across the country for your children - we just happened to choose one that's maybe a bit thinner than Australia."

Mr Mumm will join six other Aussies in the 280 kilometre coast-to-coast trek from the country's Caribbean to Pacific shores.

Seven Brits are also taking on the trek, as well as a doctor, a pair of guides, and former British SAS officer Allen Chambers.

Mr Mumm says it's an important initiative, and one which will always hit close to home.

"One in ten babies in Australia are born preterm," he said. "Roughly about 26,000 per annum."

"We as a family, my wife and I, we've unfortunately lost four children, simply because they were just born too early. If any of those things happened later in gestation, our children would've been here."

"Australian researchers are pretty excellent, and particularly those at HMRI. There's lots for us to do, and lots for us to collaborate on across the globe using Australian researchers."

Broadmeadow Local Fronts Walk to Cambodia

BY OLIVIA DILLON

Broadmeadow local Mike Collins is calling on Novocastrians to join him on a 50 million-step challenge to raise money for disadvantaged Cambodians. 

Run by the Human and Hope charity organisation, the annual Walk to Cambodia program asks participants to sign up, log 10 thousand steps a day, and raise funds during the month of April.

Mr Collins hopes to contribute to Human and Hope's fundraising goal of $40,000, all of which will be used to support a community centre in Siem Reap. 

"The really great thing about this charity is that it is grassroots and quite small, so literally event cent goes to funding things like a preschool, scholarships, sewing training, training to establish home food gardens, microfinancing loans, and recently during the pandemic, providing support for people who are living in multi-dimensional poverty," Mr Collins said. 

The virtual fundraising and fitness event will run throughout April, with fundraising efforts having already begun.  

Members of the public are encouraged to form a team and sign up on the Walk to Cambodia website.

"Walking and fundraising is a positive show of support for some of our most disadvantaged northern neighbors and a great way to lose the pandemic pounds," Mr Collins noted. 

Image: Walk to Cambodia website

102 Year Old Veteran Walks 360 Kilometres for Mental Health Awareness

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Anglican Care and Samaritans staff are supporting the efforts of a 102-year-old resident with an organisation-wide mufti day and fundraising drive on Friday.

Bert Le-Merton, a World War II veteran, has walked more than 360 kilometres and raised over $110,000 as part of the Soldier On organisation's efforts in raising awareness and preventing veteran suicide.

Bert spent five and a half years as part of the Australian Infantry Force, serving in North Africa and the Pacific Theatre with the 2/13th Battalion, 9th Division.

Anglican Care Marketing Manager Kylie Jacques said Bert is "full of positivity" and that they were proud to be following in his footsteps.

"To meet Bert is one of life's privileges," Ms Jacques said. "He's just the most amazing, beautiful gentleman, and he's been through so much in his life and has so many amazing stories to tell." 

Bert said it was important to lend a helping hand to those former personnel who were struggling to get back into the swing of civilian life.

"My longevity, I put it down to keeping on walking around the block," Mr Le-Merton said. 

"Look at it in this life, mate, if you don't use them, you lose them." 

Bert walked 96 kilometres in March alone, the length of the Kokoda trail - team members at Anglican Care’s C A Brown Lodge at Booragul are expected to match Bert's efforts. 

Ms Jacques said Bert's commitment is fantastic motivation.

"He is such an inspirational man and beyond the fantastic work he is doing for the Soldier On organisation, at the age of 102 he is an amazing example of positive and healthy ageing," Ms Jacques said.

Bert and Anglican Care staff member Irene Balkema.

Hunter Melanoma Foundation Offering Father's Day Gift Packs for Local Dads

BY DAKOTA TAIT

The Hunter Melanoma Foundation says those who might have forgotten to grab their dad a gift this Sunday shouldn't worry - the charity is working with local businesses to offer Father's Day gift packs and raise money for melanoma education and prevention.

The gift packs contain a range of treats, including golf umbrellas, canvas hats, and a local bottle of either Moscato, Reserve Chardonnay or Merlot from Gemelli Estate.

Executive officer Claudia Tolhurst says she hopes the Father's Day gift packs would be a similar hit to HMF's successful Mother's Day gift packs earlier this year.

"When COVID hit we had to look at some new ways of fundraising, so we decided to put some Mother's Day packs together and they were quite successful," Ms Tolhurst said.

"We decided we'd put some Father's Day packs together so that we could provide some options for people with free delivery where they could support a local charity and spoil their dad all at once."

Ms Tolhurst says fundraising effort and donations to the HMF were just as important as ever - the deadly disease doesn't stop for a pandemic.

"The money that we raise from the Father's Day packs goes towards our education programs," said Ms Tolhurst. "We go out into the community, into the schools in various community groups and teach people about the importance of the prevention of melanoma and also the importance of early detection."

You can grab a gift pack for your dad with free delivery all Friday at https://shop.hmf.org.au/.

Image credit: https://shop.hmf.org.au/

Local Businesses Team Up With Hunter Breast Cancer Foundation for Pamper Pack Fundraiser

BY DAKOTA TAIT

A number of local businesses have partnered with the Hunter Breast Cancer Foundation to raise funds for the charity by selling luxury pamper packs.

While traditional fundraising has put on hold by COVID-19 and social distancing measures, the charity's efforts in raising cash to support local families affected by breast cancer hasn't stopped.

HBCF General Manager Ellie Weeks says the demand for support services has only doubled.

"Breast cancer doesn't stop for a pandemic," said Ms Weeks. "So we've had to try and readjust and innovate our services to offer them safely throughout COVID-19."

All of the foundation's fundraising events were cancelled for the next twelve months, but local businesses came to the rescue - boutique stores including Scrubba Body, Eunoia Soul Rituals, Coco Love Chocolates and Tamburlaine Wine offered up supplies and products to lend a helping hand.

The pamper packs come in a variety of sizes and contain a range of Australian-made, locally-sourced, and eco-friendly gifts, such as chocolate, wine, candles, bath milk and body scrub.

Fortunately for children everywhere, the fundraiser has arrived just in time for Mother's Day.

But Novocastrians shouldn't worry if they don't have anyone specific in mind for a gift - the foundation have also offered the option of sponsoring a package for a local healthcare worker instead.

Ms Weeks says the efforts of the community in supporting the initiative will go a long way to help out both cancer patients and local businesses as well.

"At this time we could all use a bit of extra self-care and pampering, so why not give back to our local community at the same time?"

Gift packs can be purchased on the Hunter Breast Cancer Foundation website here.

Image credit: Hunter Breast Cancer Foundation

Charity Fundraiser to Tackle Homelessness in the Hunter

BY ALICE PEART

The seventh annual Newcastle Sleepout by Saint Vincent de Paul will take place tonight at McDonald Jones Stadium with over fifty local CEOs participating in the event to raise funds for homeless services.

The Sleepout invites participates to experience a night of 'sleeping rough' with just a sleeping bag and a piece of cardboard.

The latest census data shows more than 116,000 people currently experience homelessness in Australia, with over a third of that number occurring in NSW alone.

With only three percent of homes deemed affordable across the state for low-income earners, Saint Vincent de Paul is advocating for more social housing and measures to decrease cost of living.

The state government has pledged to halve homelessness by 2025 but Event Coordinator for the fundraiser, Jenny Barrie, has said there is an urgent need to direct more funds to regional areas with people reportedly feeling less safe outside of cities.

The fundraising effort is aiming for $150,000 to contribute to food services, social housing and health professionals provided by the charity in the Hunter.

It is forecasted to be just four degrees over night and Barrie says it can be a "cold, hard" experience.