Almost 30 families from across regional WA who need to come to Perth for cancer treatment have already benefited from the generosity of donations that flooded in following the passing of northern suburbs icon, David Sardo-Infirri, who died from cancer in 2022 aged just 41 years.
David's wife, Marlene Sardo-Infirri, said David always wanted to make a difference and raise awareness and funds for people living with cancer, so it was fitting the money raised went to dedicating a family-sized room to him at Cancer Council WA's Crawford Lodge in Nedlands, through our Adopt a Room program.
"After David passed away in August 2022, his family, friends and the Passione Gourmet Deli community came together and raised more than $26,000 for Cancer Council WA which was incredible," Ms Sardo-Infirri said.
"In addition to the $26,000 raised in 2022, the community has also raised around $35,000 through our Australia's Biggest Morning Tea events we have held every May since 2018.
"We wanted the money to be used for something tangible, so when we heard about the Adopt a Room program, we knew Dave would be thrilled that we chose to support country cancer patients undergoing cancer treatment in Perth.
"Going through the cancer journey is already extremely challenging if you live in Perth, so we are delighted our generous donations are assisting families in the regions who need to travel to Perth for treatment."
Cancer Council WA Philanthropy Manager, Caroline Bryndzej, said they were so thankful to Marlene and the whole Sardo-Infirri family for their continued support.
"Since the Sardo-Infirri family 'adopted' room 106 at Crawford Lodge in June 2023, 28 families including 59 children have stayed in the family-sized room while receiving cancer treatments in Perth," Ms Bryndzej said.
"The room has been in such high demand, it has been booked for a total of 400 nights, with guests coming from all over regional WA from Kununurra to Esperance."
The Adopt a Room program was launched in 2020 to allow individuals and organisations to help provide ongoing accommodation and vital support services to country cancer patients.
"We are so grateful that Marlene, the Sardo-Infirri family and friends, and the Passione Gourmet Deli community chose our Adopt a Room program to honour David," she said.
"By 'adopting a room' at our Crawford Lodge in Nedlands, the Sardo-Infirri family and all those amazing fundraisers in the northern suburbs are helping to provide vital support services that bridge the gap for regional patients and their carers by providing a home away from home.
"Their ongoing donations help cover the costs associated with operating, maintaining and cleaning their adopted room, ensuring guests have a safe, clean and comfortable place to stay in their time of need."
Ms Bryndzej said the need for accommodation and support services for country patients is arguably more important today than it was 20 years ago, due to country people coming into a congested city, rising accommodation costs and financial issues facing many people in the country.
"Each year more than 5000 country cancer patients and carers check into our lodges from all over WA, from Kununurra to Esperance, Christmas Island to Eucla," she said.
"For the past 24 years it has been the generous donors, corporate partners, passionate community fundraisers like the Sardo-Infirri family and the Passione Gourmet Deli team, and dedicated volunteers who have made everything we do to support country cancer patients possible, as every support service we offer to country families is donor funded."
