Hunter Cancer Hub hosted its first public open day recently, to showcase the services of eight local charities collaborating to deliver more streamlined cancer support to the Hunter region.
Thanks to a $90,000 grant from the Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation, the eight charities - Canteen, Camp Quality, Hunter Melanoma Foundation, Sleapy’s Foundation, Leukemia Foundation, Hunter Breast Cancer Foundation, Cancer Council and Little Wings – can collectively deliver this ground-breaking initiative which provides support, access to information and connection to peers, all under one roof.
Visitors were welcomed through the doors with goodie bags filled with treats from several supporters in the area, including a lucky door prize entry to win a Google Nest Hub, thanks to Officeworks.
Major sponsor, Guzman and Gomez were onsite to offer fresh (not-so) mini burritos and corn chips with fresh guacamole to the visitors whilst they mingled with the other guests and the staff.
Following a short welcome to the Hub, Sleapys Foundation Ambassador, Charlii Croese spoke to the gathering about her own experiences with cancer as a then 16-year-old. The honest recount was appreciated by all and Charlii’s natural warmth was shared amongst the attendees as she walked around the room afterwards, offering the Lucky Dip on hand.
Thanks to the broader community supporting the occasion, visitors were able to not only seek out information that they needed but were able to bring their families, have dinner looked after (thanks to Guzman and Gomez) and have some light-hearted fun via the Lucky Dip, goodie bags and Lucky Door.
With prizes, information and referrals conducted, the evening concluded with more connections established and a firmer commitment from all organisations to the project.
The Hunter Cancer Hub will be holding monthly open days on the first Tuesday of every month.
