Broken Hill Specialist Palliative Care Service has been gifted a $3000 donation from Broken Hill’s iconic weight loss support club, HELP (Healthy Eating Loses Pounds).
Sadly, the cheque presentation was the final activity for the club, which closed its doors at the end of last year.
In 1975, the club was formed to assist people who wanted to lose weight, and over the years they also raised funds for numerous charities.
One such annual fundraising activity was taking part in the Biggest Morning Tea, and then a charity each year was chosen to benefit from this fundraiser, amongst others.
In the early days, the club had over 70 members, and many of the group reached their goal of weight loss, “winning many lovely prizes,” club Treasurer Janet Siddall said.
But the internet eventually to club membership dwindling as weight loss enthusiasts were more easily able to access information and support from online digital sources.
Consequently, club membership gradually declined over the years, and the Covid pandemic came along and prevented the club running their usual activities and meetings.
At the club’s final meeting, the members voted to donate the remaining funds to the Broken Hill Specialist Palliative Care Service, whom the club deemed a worthy recipient of their surplus assets.
Melva Davidson, who has impressively been the inaugural and continuing President since the club’s start in 1975, told the Truth, “the club had much pleasure in presenting a cheque for $3000 to Broken Hill Palliative Care for all the wonderful work that they do”.
Melissa Cumming, Director of Cancer and Palliative Care Services at the Far West Local Health District, thanked the club for their very generous donation, which will be used to support palliative care patients and families in the Broken Hill Community.
