By Jed Lanyon
Yarra Junction resident Marissa Percy hosted two afternoon lunches at her home, while helping raise funds for the Yarra Valley Cancer Support Group.
Each year Ms Percy invites members from her U3A classes to her house and this year she held two lunches on Tuesday 21 and Wednesday 22 May and raised over $600.
Ms Percy smashed her original fundraising goal of $200 and said that she always looks to help out a good cause as her father passed away from brain cancer when she was 22.
“Since my early adult years that’s been the forefront in my mind. I’ve always supported cancer fundraisers in any way I can,” she said.
“And as I’ve gotten older I’ve had more and more people in my life that have been affected by cancer, so I think it’s a fantastic cause for one local community group to support another local community group.
“I like to support local charities because they’re giving back to our community. I’ve been doing this for many years it could probably even be for 20 years,” Ms Percy said.
Ms Percy said the money was raised by each person paying $5 to enjoy the lunch as well as holding raffles for plants generously donated by Country Gardeners Nursery in Woori Yallock.
The U3A members hold similar events throughout the year in order to raise funds for the Yarra Valley Cancer Support Group, who help improve the everyday lives of those suffering with cancer.
“A dear friend of mine was part of the group and she had cancer… They help people with things like petrol to go to and from hospital for treatment.
“It’s a very social support group, so they run functions where they can all go out and have lunch and so people can get involved.
“I know they organising bed and breakfast trips for people who have cancer can go and hopefully have a weekend where they can just forget about it for a while.
Overall, Ms Percy welcomed around 30 people across both days from two of her U3A classes.
To donate to the Yarra Valley Cancer Support Group contact Judith McGrath on 0459 615 552.
