Launching tomorrow, Domino’s Echuca, in partnership with Kagome, is donating $1 from every pizza sold on Saturdays in June to the new Echuca Regional Health Cancer and Wellness Centre.
The hospital needs to raise $1.3 million for the new centre, which would move cancer and dialysis treatment to a purpose-built, modern facility on the corner of Haverfield and Service streets.
“At the moment some people in Echuca have to travel out of town for cancer treatment,” Domino’s Echuca owner Jarrod Burke said.
“With Echuca growing as fast as it is, I don’t see how we couldn’t support the new centre as a local community.”
Kagome and Domino’s Echuca have been collaborating for the past five years and for the four Saturdays in June Kagome will donate the pizza sauce, which is locally grown and made.
Kagome employee Michael Monaghan is also an ambassador for the new cancer centre, having received treatment for bowel cancer at ERH.
Kagome Asia Pacific food service sales manager Mitch Austin said cancer was something that affected everyone in some way, including people at Kagome.
“Unfortunately my grandma passed away two weeks ago with cancer, and one of the really nice things was the work the palliative care nurses in Echuca did for her,” he said.
“Just for that, when the opportunity came up to look at different ways we could help raise some awareness and funds for the cancer and wellness centre, we all want to try and do what we can.
“We’re in a position at Kagome where we can partner with different businesses in the community and help do our bit.”
He said Kagome would be working on more future fundraising opportunities for the cancer centre.
So far more than $312,000 has been donated towards the $1.3 million goal and fundraising co-ordinator Shari Butcher said they were thrilled Domino’s Echuca and Kagome had jumped on board.
“Community and local business support helps us reach our fundraising goal and supports us in providing the holistic care to our patients along with minimising their needs to travel long distances,” she said.
“We have been blown away by the support of the community so far and urge people to get behind this great event for a great cause.
“The idea of supporting local business during these times is so important, so it’s a real chance to get behind Domino’s and support the Cancer and Wellness Centre at the same time.”
Mrs Butcher said construction of the centre was on track to start in July and staff and patients were looking forward to seeing the site come to life.
The ‘doughraiser’ builds on Domino’s Echuca’s community spirit over the course of the pandemic, giving out 800 pizzas to local businesses, including Echuca hospital.
“Every second night we just delivered a couple of pizzas to the emergency department,” Mr Burke said.
“I think hospital workers are underappreciated and they’ve been under the pump with the pandemic.
“Before we knew how bad COVID-19 was going to be they still had to go to work.”
The Domino’s ‘doughraiser’ will apply to both pick-up and delivery orders but excludes minis and value pizzas. The store is open from 11am to 11pm on Saturdays.
To donate to the Cancer and Wellness Centre visit erh.org.au/cancerandwellness or to host a fundraising event, contact fundraising co-ordinator Shari Butcher on (03) 5485 5087 or cancerandwellness@erh.org.au
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