By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
CARMEN Charlton has made a career out of keeping fit.
And now the Narre Warren-based personal trainer is using her business as another source for good, entering a team in this month’s Casey Relay for Life.
It’s the fifth year the Carmen Get Fit team will be participating in the relay, having already run several fund-raisers in the lead-up to the event.
Carmen has lost three grandparents to cancer and said the cause was dear to her heart.
“I personally have only one surviving grandparent, I’ve lost three grandparents to cancer,” she said.
“And I have quite a lot of friends and family who have battled and some who survived.
“I had a cancer scare myself last year. I have a soft spot for all charities, but I’ve more so been affected by cancer, it’s such an unfair disease.
“There’s no cure. If anyone can help in anyway, I would encourage them to do so.”
Last year, Carmen’s relay team raised $10,000 for the Cancer Council and this year the 70-person strong team is hoping to exceed their record.
“Every year, I hold several fund-raising events, from Boot Camps, to Zumbathons, to movie nights, to trivia nights, to shopping tours, to Amazing Race style treasure hunts, to dodgeball tournaments, to girls night’s in, you name it,” she said.
“All of which I donate my time to organising and hosting. I also volunteer at the Relay for Life in Narre-Cranbourne, Pakenham and Casey running a 30-minute Zumba session at each of those events.”
The Casey Relay for Life will take place on Friday 13 and Saturday 14 March.
For more information, visit www.cancervic.org.au.