MPA fundraiser at Ilawarra Turf Club Kembla Grange

It was good to meet up with Lisa & Herman from MPA Head office - after talking with them so many times on the phone, it was great to put a face to the name.
We also met the organisers of the Inaugural Race Day:  Jay Allan ,Christine Booth, Karen Ryan & Sue Watson.

What a great roll up they had, approximately 250 people who supported not only the purchase of their tickets to attend but joined in the activities of extra fundraising on the day by purchasing raffle tickets, contributing to the silent auction & enjoying the fun of the game heads or tails.
The tables were adorned with decoration & gift bags full of sponsor goodies distributed throughout the room.

All the ladies were dressed beautifully with a prize for the best "bonnet" on the day. We all had fun meeting new people & catching up with old or new found friends. 

The guest speaker Clinton Heal from Melanoma WA shared with us his journey over the past few years since being diagnosed with Melanoma. It was an inspiring speech & carried the strong message that diagnosis is one thing, but it's the challenges on the journey afterwards where support is really crucial.
MPA & Melanoma W.A are working on being able to give this support & it is through fund raising activities such as today where it is all possible.

My niece Julie (with the big smile) is also on the journey after diagnosis of Melanoma. She was on hand to sash the winning horse from race 2  the "Ilawarra MPA Support Group Handicap."
Well done to the winning horse and connections and well done to you Julie I'm sure the image taken for the Illawarra Mercury will look fantastic.

Although personally I couldn't pick a winner on the day but it was still a memorable event, so many people offered support for our own fundraising evening on Saturday June 11 at Castle Hill RSL.
Will post more details in the coming weeks - contact Chris on 0409 009748 for more information.