Cakes raise cash for cancer

CRANBOURNE Homemaker Centre helped raise more than $16,000 for Melanoma Institute Australia with a simple cupcake initiative recently.
In March, the centre joined forces with Melanoma Institute Australia for a national fund-raising campaign called ‘Bake, Don’t Sunbake’.
The one-day event was held at 11 BB Retail Capital (BBRC) homemaker centres, across Australia.
On Wednesday 23 April, BBRC chief executive Darren Holland presented Melanoma Institute Australia with a cheque for more than $16,000.
The money will go towards helping to fund a world-leading clinical trial for patients with brain metastases, led by researcher Associate Professor Georgina Long.
The initiative also generated exposure and awareness of melanoma and helped spread the message that early detection saves lives.
Cranbourne Homemaker Centre manager Kate Parkinson said locals threw their support behind the event.
“It was exciting to partner with Melanoma Institute Australia, seeing our customers come down and support the cause by buying a cupcake and decorating it,” she said.
“Cranbourne residents were amazing with their generous support with this fund-raising event, raising close to $1000. That’s a lot of cupcakes.”
Melanoma Institute Australia general manager Nicola Ware said the campaign was about raising the much-needed funds to support vital research into the devastating disease and expand the reach of their message of early detection, sun safety and annual skin checks.
“Australia has the highest incidence of melanoma in the world and is often referred to as ‘Australia’s national cancer’ with more than 12,500 new cases diagnosed each year and the most common cancer in young Australians aged 15 to 39 years,” she said.
“Over 90 per cent of melanomas can be cured, if detected and treated early enough.”