The 24 Hour Fight Against Cancer Macarthur patient transport bus has clocked more than 300,000 kilometres in just 10 years.
The 12 seater bus was donated to 24 Hour, which picked up the cost of a driver.
Local cancer patients are picked up, dropped off at either the Campbelltown or Camden Hospitals cancer therapy centres and then picked up again and taken home.
Today, the newly elected chairman of 24 Hour Macarthur, Warren Morrison, used the bus as an example of how money donated to the mighty local charity directly helps cancer patients.
Mr Morrison was speaking at the official launch of another year of fundraising for 24 Hour Macarthur.
Mr Morrison, who is also a Campbelltown councillor, was the deputy chairman to the late Fred Borg, the founder of 24 Hour Macarthur.
Fred Borg passed away last December.
At the annual general meeting of the charity last week, Mr Morrison was elected chairman and former secretary Sue McGarrity deputy chairperson.
“We have to keep going forward, as Fred would have expected us to,’’ Mr Morrison told today’s launch.
“It’s a great honour to be elected chairman for 24 Hour Macarthur, following in Fred’s footsteps,’’ he said.
“I promise to give it 100 per cent, 150 percent, whatever it takes to make sure his legacy stays alive.’’
Mr Morrison announced that in 2016-17 the 24 Hour Macarthur raised an extraordinary $320,000.
[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]“This is a staggering achievement for a local, non profit organisation, run totally by volunteers,’’ he said.[/social_quote]
“That’s $3.7 million in 12 years and no doubt it will be over $4 million by this time next year.
“Every dollar raised is put towards helping the cancer patients of Campbelltown and Camden Hospitals, so that’s 100 percent by Macarthur for Macarthur.
“Our money pays for state of the art equipment and services to provide the best cancer treatment in the state.
“This is indeed a great achievement,’’ Mr Morrison said.
As part of the official launch earlier today at the Macarthur Lexus showroom in Gregory Hills, a video tribute to Fred Borg’s memory was played on two large screens.
I agree with these idea but can assure you that the planing of the 2020 celabration will have to be good to beat the 150 th that Mayor Clive tregear planned and delived so well even if it meant I had to go to work in my office in Queen St dressed in period outfits and top hat for the week. It was great fun and brought the Community together in a way that has not been repeated.