By BRIDGET COOK
THE local community will come out swinging in the fight against cancer this weekend to honour the legacy of Casey’s Jenny Black.
The Narre Warren mother and her children Adam, Renae and Bianca had been busy organising the Jen’s Charity Baseball Match for this Saturday, 7 June.
Sadly Mrs Black lost her battle with cancer on Tuesday but the event will still go ahead with more gusto than before.
The event was to be Mrs Black’s last attempt at raising as much money as she could to go towards the Cranbourne Narre Relay for Life, of which she was a committee member and keen participant.
Her children and the community will ensure the event will go head this Saturday and have urged the community to get behind the fundraiser to raise much-needed money for prevention and finding a cure for cancer.
Mrs Black had twice survived breast cancer in the past, but it recently returned with a vengeance.
She has been involved in many aspects of the community, particularly the Relay for Life and the Casey arts movement.
She supported the development of young people in the arts as president of the BATS Theatre Company and volunteered her expertise for a range of production and co-ordination roles for more than 12 years, including mayoral arts concerts, Star Search, Casey Idol and People in the Parks events.
In 2010 she was announced as the recipient of the 2010 Lindsay King Arts Initiative Award – Casey’s most prestigious award for the arts, recognising local residents whose initiatives have made a significant contribution to the arts in Casey.
Cranbourne Narre Relay for Life publicity co-ordinator Brooke Hunter said it was a privilege to have had Mrs Black involved with the event, alongside the many other community driven organisations she was involved in.
“Jenny enriched all of our lives with love, inspiration and her strength,” she said.
“Our thoughts are with her family and closest friends. Her courage will be with us each and every day.”
Jen’s Charity Baseball Match will take place at Cyril Molyneux Reserve, Mansfield Street, Berwick, this Saturday from 2.30 to 5pm.
There will be market stalls, sausage sizzle and raffle – as well as the opportunity to get involved in the baseball match.
For more information or to donate to the day, call Louise Higgins on 0400 688 586.
