By JESSE GRAHAM
A GROUP of friends and family are campaigning to sell thousands of books to support a Warburton author’s cancer treatment.
Penelope’s Purpose is a campaign organised to support local author, Jo Rothwell, as she undergoes treatment for stage-four cancer.
The purpose is simple: to give Ms Rothwell’s book, Penelope’s Plume, the launch it deserves, and raise money to help her through the year.
Friends, Pip Young, Nic Fox and Penny O’Brien, along with Ms Rothwell’s mother, husband, sisters and nephew, got the project underway with a YouTube video, posted online this week.
Ms Young told the Mail that the book was released at the beginning of 2015, but was never properly launched, as Ms Rothwell was undergoing treatment for thyroid cancer.
Last year, Ms Rothwell was told that her breast cancer, which she had previously been treated for, had metastasised to her lungs and was classified as stage-four.
In the video, Ms Young, Ms Fox and Ms O’Brien hold copies of Penelope Plume, dressed in pink – the colour used to raise awareness of breast cancer (and the favourite colour of the book’s main character).
“She writes fantastic kids’ books – they’re well-known throughout Australia, they’re on the Premier’s Reading List, and they’re awesome,” the group said.
Ms Young said the video was organised “behind Jo’s back”, to try and get support from the wider community.
“She (Ms Rothwell) hates accepting help of any kind, so we’ve been a bit naughty in doing this,” she said.
She said the group was hoping to sell 2000 copies of the hardback book, though they had 3000 copies on hand.
“That should support her for the rest of this year, in terms of treatment,” Ms Young said.
When contacted by the Mail, Ms Rothwell said the campaign was “humbling”.
“It’s just very touching,” she said.
“You have to deal with things you didn’t think you’d ever have to deal with, and to have people there beside you is very rewarding.
“I think I’m very lucky to have such brilliant friends.”
The video also lists a discounted price for the book of $15 plus postage.To watch the video, visit http://bit.ly/1nxoqRu or click below.
To purchase a book, visit www.rothwellpublishing.com. To donate, or for bulk orders, email info@rothwellpublishing.com.
