There’s more excitement than usual of a Monday afternoon at the City Memorial Bowls Club as the weekly bingo prize jackpots to $900.
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People from as far away as Timboon and Port Fairy come to play and contribute to a fund-raiser that in the past year alone has generated $10,000 towards a new public appeal at South West Healthcare, which needs $26,808 to purchase eight new infusion pumps for its chemotherapy unit.
It’s the fourth year breast cancer survivors Pauline Burleigh and Judi Doherty have spearheaded the Lucky7 Cancer Bingo group.
The friends were both diagnosed the same week almost nine years ago.
“We used to have a luncheon once a year, we were raising about $3000. We wanted to do something that could raise a bit more,” Mrs Burleigh said.
After a shaky start there’s now a loyal Lucky7 following and the games draw in both cancer survivors and those still fighting.
Mrs Burleigh has come through her own fight more determined than ever.
“It teaches you that life is to short too worry about anything. I was probably someone that anyone could walk over but now I’ve got a second chance at life and I’m going to go for it.”
South West Healthcare community partnerships manager Suzan Morey said the bingo effort was remarkable.
“This is their $50,000 donation (to the hospital) and they gave $10,000 to Peter’s Project this year,” Ms Morey said.