Year 12 student, Joel Hansen, has raised over $4,000 for Dot's Place, our cancer support centre in Mandurah. He organised the fundraiser in honour of his mum after her breast cancer diagnosis.
Joel shares that Dot's Place provided essential support for his mum when she had breast cancer. He decided he wanted to give back to help others facing a similar experience.
"My mum had help from this support centre while she was going through her cancer, which is why I would like to donate. I would like other people to have this same support and comfort that she received," Joel says.
The fundraiser featured a games and quiz night at Game On Mandurah. It included a gold coin donation entry, along with raffles and games to raise additional funds.
Although there wasn't a specific fundraising goal, Joel initially hoped to raise at least $500. He was thrilled when his friends, family and the wider community came together to raise an incredible $4,000.
"I didn't really have a goal in mind, but a general consensus we all subconsciously came to was that we should at least have gotten $500. We raised around $4,000, which I was ecstatic about."
Joel shares that the fundraising event was even more significant because of his personal connection to cancer, with both his mum and grandfather impacted by a cancer diagnosis.
"My grandfather lost his battle with cancer a few years ago. I really cherished my time with him, and I loved him a lot. His passing hurt a lot for me, and I want to help other people who are going through the things my grandfather and mother have gone through," Joel says.
He adds, "I hope that Dot's Place can use this money to better their facilities and services to those with cancer, and more people can be helped who are going through a lot of pain.".
For anyone considering organising their own fundraiser, Joel encourages you to "give it a go".
"Having a stable schedule and plan to your event is key to having it go well. Even so, just giving it a good go and raising any amount of money, no matter how small, will be helping your community and is a very kind thing to do," he shares.
"I am very privileged and thankful to have helped my community so much, and I'm very proud of the amount of money that I have donated to this cause."
Thank you to Joel, his family, friends and everyone who donated to support this event.
