Club Yandina – Yandina Bowls Club members have proved they have hearts of gold donating $660 to Bloomhill Cancer Care. 

The donation comes in the wake of the passing of several members to the disease.  

“Sadly, we’ve had quite a few of our bowling members pass away in recent years to cancer,” said Chairman Leon Granzien. 

“One of our most recent was Wayne Cottrell, who was our part-time greenkeeper. 

“We decided to have a Memorial Bowls Day called Cottys Day, which we held earlier in the year. 

“Since then, we decided we’d have a Memorial Day to include all our bowlers who have passed.

“The wife of our bowling member, Ash Smith, had a cancer scare and I know that she was cared for by Bloomhill. 

“It was his suggestion to the Board of Management that for the recent Memorial Day, we donate part of the proceeds to Bloomhill. 

“I don’t see why, in the future, we wouldn’t have an annual Memorial Day and make a donation once a year to Bloomhill.”

Bloomhill Donations and Fundraising Manager Tessa Biddles thanked Club Yandina for its kindness.  

“Bloomhill runs on the proceeds of 10 op shops and on donations. Around 25 percent of our income is donations,” she said. 

“This level of donations make a huge difference to actually being able to provide people with the care services that we do. 

“Please know that this is a huge donation to us, so thank you.”

Bloomhill CEO Christopher John agreed $660 went a long way in caring for a cancer patient.

“On average it costs us $1400 a year to provide subsidized care and support for an entire year for a client,” he said. 

“So $660 is equivalent to about six months of care for a client. It goes a long way.

“Six months for some of our clients may help get them through a range of chemotherapy.

“To be able to provide that subsidised support through those months of treatment is a significant thing that will make a difference. 

“When we talk about it being meaningful, that’s what we mean.”

Bloomhill provides personalised cancer care that brings together many health modalities under the one roof.  Bloomhill has helped many thousands of people adjust to life after cancer since it was founded in 1997 by breast cancer survivor and palliative care nurse, Margaret Gargan.