AN innovative fundraising idea will help boost Cairns’ contribution to cancer care.
Real estate agent Karl Latham’s donation of $5000 from a house sale commission was added to the Trinity Powersports Sea-Fari Island Hop final tally.
Mr Latham celebrated the Reservoir Rd house sale and its contribution to health services.
“I’m really thrilled that we are able to make this donation,” Mr Latham, wearing his Superman outfit, said.
“Our daughter Olivia was born 10 weeks premature so we spent a lot of time at the Cairns Hospital and the staff were fantastic so this is an opportunity to give something back to a worthy cause,” Mr Latham said .The 2016 Trinity Powersports Sea-Fari Island Hop is now the most successful jetski fundraising event in the region, providing more than $49, 000 to improve cancer support services in Far North Queensland.
In the five previous events, known as Unit’s Jetski Fundrun, it raised a total of just over $90, 000.
This year's event, held on Australia Day 2016, attracted 30 jetski riders and 46 participants in total, island hopping from Yorkeys Knob to Palm Cove, Double Island, Scout’s Hat Island, then on to Low Island and into Port Douglas for lunch
Due to the Cairns Hospital redevelopment, planning for the tranquillity room at the Cancer Care Ward, funded from previous years’ events, is now underway with a view to starting construction in 2016.
Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation fundraising co-ordinator Nicole Gibson said Mr Latham’s donation was a great example of what could be achieved.
“We had some great fundraising efforts this year, with Matthew Parrish raising almost $7000 on his own, and Karl and the vendor’s donation today shows that the local community is passionate about helping others in need,” Ms Gibson said.
Photo: Superman (aka real estate agent Karl Latham) and Foundation fundraising co-ordinator Nicole Gibson celebrate the $5000 donation to cancer care via the Reservoir Rd house sale.
