Community
15 November, 2024
Date set for fundraising walk
CAMPERDOWN’S Kellarnie Edwards has been “blown away” by the generosity of the community as she prepares for a fundraising walk in honour of her mother’s cancer battle.
As the Camperdown Chronicle reported last month, Kellarnie Edwards is raising funds for the Cure Brain Cancer Foundation after her mother, Jan, was last year diagnosed with inoperable brain cancer known as glioblastoma multiforme.
Ms Edwards made the decision to host a 10 kilometre walk to raise the funds after learning just how common brain cancer is.
She set out with a modest target of raising $500 in mind, but surpassed the milestone in days and has since had to continuously raise the target.
“I’m just blown away by how generous everyone has been,” Ms Edwards said.
“I put it up, thinking it’s pretty high, and then someone else comes along and donates.
“I just keep raising it.
“It doesn’t hurt to reach for the sky.”
At time of publication, Ms Edwards’ fundraiser has reached $3439.
The figure is close to her current goal of $3500, which she attributed to the generosity of individuals as well as groups such as the Camperdown Golf Bowls Club.
“They had a fundraiser recently that a couple of the ladies organised, and they raised $770,” she said.
“When I went through and had a look, the bowls club alone had given over $1400 – mum, dad and I are members here, and we’ve got a lot of good friends.
“Camperdown Morning Melodies also made a really generous donation of $281.
“I think it says a lot about Camperdown, the community, how everyone rallies around each other and how generous and kind people are here.”
One member of the bowls club, Peter James, will also be supporting Ms Edwards during her walk – they will also be joined by Trish Taylor as they complete the 10km walk on Sunday, November 24.
Ms Edwards said planning and preparations for the walk have been going well.
“We’re starting at the Loaf and Lounge, and we’ll just wait and see what the weather’s going to be like on the day,” she said.
“If it’s going to be hot, we’ll start earlier in the morning, but otherwise we’ll start around 8am.
“It’ll probably take us a few hours, and we’ve planned a route around town – we’re going up and down the main street and loop around one side of town and then the other.
“It’s all weather-dependent – if the weather’s not great on the day, we’ll just walk up and down and do laps of the main street.”
Ms Edwards invited the wider community to join her during the walk, and had planned the route to pay a special visit to her month.
“If you just want to walk for a little bit, you can just join in – people can just join for a little bit,” she said.
“I’ve got a couple of friends who are going to do the whole walk and we’ve planned the route to go past my house, so we can wave to my mum on the way past.
“My brother and his family are going come for it – they’re not going to do the walk, but they’ll be there for support.
“It should just be a good day, and I’m looking forward to it.”
Ms Edwards said she was excited to take part in the upcoming walk and was also grateful to everyone who has donated to the cause so far.
“I really want to thank everyone – everyone from the bowls club, mum and dad’s friends, family, everyone who’s donated to it and gotten behind it,” she said.
“The money’s going to a good cause that affects a lot of people, and it’ll fund research that will hopefully one day find a cure.”
To donate to Ms Edwards’ walk, visitmy.walk4braincancer.com.au/walk4braincancer-virtual-2024/kellarnie-edwards
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