In memory of 11-year-old Pippa Rea, who passed away from brain cancer in 2015, Pitstop Menswear is continuing its annual tradition of raising funds for the Robert Connor Dawes foundation.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Manager Lea Watson usually holds a barbeque and sells RCD beanies and socks.
But amid the coronavirus pandemic, she will set up a table outside her Liebig Street store with plenty of winter woollies for sale.
"This is what I want to do to give back," she said.
"We need to raise as much money as we can and I want more people to become aware of this. We need as much research as possible into this for our little ones."
Pippa Rea's mother Virginia Rea has been humbled by Mrs Watson's generosity over the years and will be present on Saturday to help.
Five years down the track, to still be going out of her way to raise funds in Pippa's memory is really beautiful.
- Virginia Rea
"Children's cancer is so cruel and there's not much research for it. With Covid-19, the researchers can't even go into the labs which is setting their milestones back.
"Covid has really impacted research making raising funds all the more important."
Normally, RCD holds their annual Connor's Run in September where about 5000 run from Sandringham to Melbourne's centre and the event is the children's brain tumour foundation's largest fundraiser.
Despite the setbacks from Covid-19, Ms Rea and Mrs Watson hope to raise as much money as possible on Saturday.
In another touching tribute to Pippa, Mrs Watson will bring along her blue greyhound, who was named by the 11-year-old.
"My youngest grandson Amiyus used to call Pippa and say 'I'm coming down to eat your chips and play with your trains' and it would brighten her day," Mrs Watson said.
"She called one of the greyhounds Chips And Trains and in its 31 starts it placed every time.
"He has the most beautiful nature and wherever we go, we get stopped all the time and it's great because we get to tell Pippa's story."
Listen to the latest episode of our weekly episode The Booletin and Beyond:
Have you signed up to The Standard's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in the south-west.