ERIN Ross and her children Maia and Ryley hope their fundraiser for a brain cancer cure next Friday will top the $13,000 they raised last year.
They lost husband and dad Matt to brain cancer 18 months after he was diagnosed in August 2013. He was 32 at the time, while Maia and Ryley were eight and five.
Motivated by wanting to help others and pay forward the support they received, the threesome and a team of supporters are running the Beanies for Brain Cancer fundraiser at Elysium, Victoria Point on Friday, June 15.
All money raised goes to the Beanies for Brain Cancer Fund.
Maia will sell handmade bead angels that she started to make when her father was sick.
Inspired by his sister’s efforts Ryley designed a logo for super-hero-themed beanies. A special order of Rylee’s Beanies have arrived and are being sold to raise money.
Ms Ross said they were motivated by wanting to support the cause to find a cure for brain cancer and to make Matt proud.
“We can’t change what’s happened,” she said. “He wouldn’t want us sitting around moping. We want to make him proud.
“We are not the first family who has been through this and we won’t be the last.
“We need to find a cure for brain cancer because at the moment there is no hope for someone who is diagnosed and it is the biggest killing cancer.”
Ms Ross said sales of the beaded angels raised money that they regularly gave to families in need.
“Sometimes it’s someone we read about on Facebook or who is running a crowdfunding campaign,” she said.
“We sometimes donate a supermarket or petrol voucher.
“We know how how helpful it can be to have a money for food and petrol for trips to hospital when someone is sick.”
The sales have helped pay for a water filter and ice machine at Redland Hospital’s palliative care unit.
“That was something we did, which was for Matt,” Ms Ross said.
Raffles, auctions and cent auctions at the June 15 event will also raise money. A cruise and holiday to Thailand are among prizes up for grabs.
Travel Managers, the company Ms Ross works for, and Elysium are supporting the event.
Tickets for the fundraiser are $75 with $10 from each going to the Beanies for Brain Cancer Fund.
To attend the event, visit facebook.com/events/2035357890037778 or Beanies for Brain Cancer event on Facebook.
To order Maia’s Angels, visit facebook.com/maiasangels or maiasangels.com.
