Two Sydney Corporates are coming together and challenging other Australian companies to outdo them, as they gear up to host a “celebration of survival” themed morning tea, raising funds for Cancer Council.
As one of the first major events to be hosted for Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea, Goodman Group and Shaw and Partners, will launch their inaugural “Community Biggest Morning Tea” for all tenants of 60 Castlereagh Street, Sydney with the support of Dexus. The event will be held on Friday, 19 May and will raise at least $50,000, as the Shaw and Partners and Goodman Foundations together will match all funds raised up to $50,000.
Shaw and Partners and Goodman Group said today that it made sense for corporates to come together as a community to raise money for such a worthy cause, as it was often a sense of community that helped cancer survivors through their cancer experience.
Cancer survivor Gillian Marks, a Goodman employee and member of the organising committee, is five years cancer free and puts her survival down to a number of things, including feeling supported by her community, her employer and Cancer Council.
“When I was diagnosed with breast cancer back in 2012, it came as a great shock because I didn’t even have a visible lump. Stage 2 breast cancer was found during a routine mammogram that my doctor suggested so I had no idea that something could be wrong.
“My cancer treatment was successful but I have since suffered many of the side effects of it including chronic pain, chronic migraine, an auto-immune disease and as a consequence of these, depression.
“It was with the help of Cancer Council through its counselling service and a neighbourhood walking group that I found the strength I needed to get through this next phase of my cancer journey,” Gillian said.
Shaw and Partners Foundation Chairman, Simon Martin felt compelled to step up its fundraising efforts after one of its staff members was diagnosed with cancer. He said, “we have supported the annual Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea initiative for 18 years, as many of our staff member’s lives have tragically been touched by cancer. This year, we really wanted to take our fundraising to the next level so we’ve been working with our neighbours at Goodman Group and the other tenants of 60 Castlereagh Street, to collectively raise more funds for the Cancer Council’s support services.”
The two companies are encouraging all building tenants to come along to the morning tea, take part in raffles and make additional donations.
Goodman Group Foundation CEO Jo Cameron believes in the power of the collective to make a greater impact. She said, “the more money we raise, the greater the benefit to Australians living with cancer there will be, and there is only upside in providing as much assistance as possible to these brave people and their families. That’s why together with the Shaw and Partners Foundation, we are guaranteeing a minimum of $50,000 will be raised by our morning tea by matching funds raised.”
“Those of us at 60 Castlereagh Street will welcome all to what we hope will be the biggest corporate morning tea held in Sydney.”
