DAFFODIL Cottage will be just one of a number of charities to benefit from money raised over many years by the city’s retained firefighters.
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Yesterday, the cottage was presented a $5000 donation from the Fire and Rescue NSW Volunteers group.
Deputy captain David Pennells said the fundraising effort goes back 40 years.
The firefighters initially raised money to pay for teams to go away and compete in fire fighting competitions.
To raise the money they did catering at Mount Panorama during bike races and the V8s, they cleaned fire hydrants for council and catered for various sporting organisations.
At the time they were very active in competitions, however, deputy captain Pennells said the Kelso Brigade have really picked up that baton and run with it and the Bathurst crews rarely take part these days.
As a result they had about $20,000 sitting in a donations fund that was never accessed.
“We thought we should put it to good use,” he said.
They have also donated $4000 to the RSPCA for their Million Paws Walk.
Mr Pennells said donations will also be made to the Prostate Cancer Support Group, the Salvation Army and the Burns Unit at Westmead Hospital.
Captain Kevin Ryan said at least 40 firefighters were involved in raising the money over the years.
The firemen said they chose Daffodil Cottage as one of the recipients because it is a good local project in dire need of expansion.
Daffodil Cottage fundraising committee president Doug Kinlyside said he was really grateful to the firefighters for their generosity.
He added that one of the great benefits of Daffodil Cottage is that people can receive treatment locally and avoid arduous travel.
“We are really indebted to the people of Bathurst,” he said.
“Our fundraising campaign is going well. We have raised close to $80,000 so far, and hope to start our building works this year.”
That work will continue over the next 18 months as money becomes available.
Mr Kinlyside said cancer doesn’t discriminate and affects everyone.
He said with cancer cases expected to increase by 30 per cent by the year 2020 the extension of Daffodil Cottage from five treatment chairs to 10 is more important than ever.
