WALK FOR A CURE

EASTERN SUBURBS Bayside NEWS

• BELLEVUE HILL • EDGECLIFF • DARLINGHURST • DARLING POINT • DOUBLE BAY • ELIZABETH BAY • PADDINGTON • • POINT PIPER • POTTS POINT • ROSE BAY • RUSHCUTTERS BAY • SURRY HILLS • VAUCLUSE • WATSONS BAY • WOOLLAHRA •

Walk for a Cure supports the eastern suburbs

Over 450 walkers descended on Robertson Park in Watsons Bay on May 5 to begin the inaugural Westpac Walk for a Cure.

Since 2017, the Westpac Tour has raised $5.7 million for vital cancer research, support and prevention initiatives and this year (up till May 25) it had raised 1.18m – including around $450,000 on the day of the walk – and well on the way towards this year’s goal of $1.25m.

Walk for a Cure is one of the many activities of umbrella organisation Tour de Cure, which co-ordinates cycling as well as walking and other fundraising events with sponsors.

“We were really thrilled that so many people decided to join from Westpac and partners in the inaugural year (of this event),” Tour de Cure Marketing Manager Laura Preston told Eastern Suburbs Life. “And it was great to see the team coming together behind a common cause. " The Westpac walk was open to the corporation and anyone from the wider organisation, their sponsors and partners. The walkers caught a ferry earlier from Darling Harbour to Watsons Bay then, from the park, walked through the eastern suburbs via Parsley Bay and Rose Bay to Woollahra Sailing Club for morning tea, past Rushcutters Bay then onto Woolloomooloo, before finishing at Darling Harbour.

Another altruistic benefit of these events are donations to local charities. “Every time we do an event – whether riding or walking – we give $10,000 to a local charity,” Preston advised. On the morning of this event, $10,000 was donated to eastern suburbs charity Life Force Cancer Foundation.

“Life Force offers a counselling service and support for people who’ve gone through cancer treatment and living with cancer,” Preston said. “For those suffering mentally, emotionally, re-adjusting to what they’ve been through."

Life Force Cancer Foundation was set up by local Jilly Pascoe in 1993, when there was little support, and with Caro Jonas this organisation has grown and now offers an integrated supportive care system for all those affected by cancer. Since being established in 2007, partners, fundraisers have helped Tour de Cure raise over $75 million, fund more than 563 cancer projects and contribute to 55 significant cancer breakthroughs.

Paula Towers