By ANEEKA SIMONIS
A FUND-RAISING event held in honour of a long-term Berwick resident who lost her battle with cancer last year has helped raise more than $60,000 for a soon-to-be-constructed palliative care unit.
Connie Manley passed away from cervical cancer in early 2015.
She was just 54 years of age when she died, leaving behind many close friends and family including husband Greg Manley and kids Kirby, 28, Hannah, 25, and Richard, 23.
But her spirit lives on, particularly through her involvement with the tight-knit Berwick Pony Club, which decided to raise funds for a new hospital unit in memory of Connie.
The fund-raising event, ‘Connie’s Day’, held on Friday 8 April, raised more than $60,000 for St John of God Berwick Hospital’s Palliative Care Unit, due to open next year.
Plenty of Connie’s close friends and family turned out to the fund-raising event, held at Forest Edge Restaurant in Gembrook, to do their bit.
Forest Edge manager Bev Butterworth said funds raised would go on to positively impact the hospital for many years to come.
“The experience of Connie’s illness has prompted a commitment from this fund-raising team to assist the hospital staff financially in offering excellent palliative care in a warm, hospitable and comfortable environment,” she said.
A brand new Mercedes-Benz donated by Mercedes-Benz Berwick was one of the top items donated during the fund-raising event.
Connie’s Day is expected to become an annual event.
