The Wollondilly community joined together at Bargo Sports Club recently to help people impacted by depression, anxiety and suicide.
Local sport and community groups joined family and friends at a charity dinner focused on raising funds for non-profit organisation beyondblue and heightening awareness about mental health issues.
Fundraiser co-ordinator Chris Underwood said the idea for the event came about following the passing of a close friend.
‘‘As president of the Wollondilly Knights at the time, I put it to the committee that I wanted to do a round in our season were we raised awareness and held a charity dinner to raise funds. ‘‘The committee were behind the idea 100 per cent as I was not the only person in our club that had been effected by anxiety and or depression.’’
While the Knights have continued to hold their beyondblue round, more community groups have joined them in supporting the charity event and message.
‘‘From just a event for our club in 2013, then in 2014 we involved others codes of sport and this year we change the event name to Wollondilly Sport and Community groups proudly supporting beyondblue because of the growth of involvement of the Wollondilly community,’’ Mr Underwood said.
More than 250 people enjoyed a dinner along with raffles, a money wheel, lucky door prizes, silent and live auctions, awards for best dressed male and females and performances from solo artists Gus Harris and Jemma Beech and live music from the band Black Dogs.
Organisers set the fundraising goal of over $18,000 to donate to beyondblue and they have exceeded expectations having counted more than $20,000 at this point.
Mr Underwood was pleased with the response from the community for the event and on the issue of mental health.
‘‘It is a topic that does not discriminate and has the ability to effected anybody and most people in our community have been effected directly or indirectly by anxiety and or depression and worse suicide.’’
Last Modified on 15/07/2015 08:46
