Parkes Shire Mayor started the Classic Outback Trial rally in Parkes on Sunday morning. (Photo: Keith F Turk Photography)
After a week of fundraising and much excitement of 40 rally cars coming to town, the Parkes Prostate Cancer Awareness and Support Group is much closer to its aim of getting a nurse in Parkes.
At the moment, the closest specialist prostate cancer nurse is located in Orange and is responsible for a large area of the Central West.
“These nurses are a vital link in the recovery process of prostate cancer treatment,” said Michael Lynch of the group.
The Parkes group was sponsored by Spinifex Recruiting, and Chairperson Peter O’Donnell made a presentation of $1,000 to Pauline Gosper, co-founder of PCA&SG at the conclusion of the week of fundraising.
Spinifex Recruiting was associated with the Briggs Brothers, who were participating in the Classic Outback Trail, to raise funds for Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia. The Briggs Brothers in turn matched the Spinifex Recruiting donation by presenting co-founder of PCA&SG Michael Lynch with a further $1,000 donation last weekend.
Residents who made a donation were given the opportunity go into a draw to be the passenger in the Briggs Brothers Team’s 1965 Mustang for a drive around the Parkes CBD. The winner of the draw was Bhupinder Singh. Unfortunately, the Briggs Brother’s Mustang was plagued with technical problems and they were unable to participate in the Parkes Section of the Classic Outback Trail. However, in the true spirit of the classic car fraternity, other drivers came to the rescue and the offer was fulfilled.
Along with the generous donations from Spinifex Recruiting and the Briggs Brothers, the Parkes community helped to raise over $2,000 with donations still coming in.
“The PCA&SG would like to thank Spinifex Recruiting, the Briggs Brothers, the Parkes community and The Parkes Phoenix, for supporting their efforts to raise funds for the appointment of a Regional Specialist Prostate Cancer Nurse,” said Michael Lynch.