A simple gold coin donation for gift wrapping has grown into almost $25,000 for the Cancer and Wellness Centre at Echuca Regional Health, thanks to the generosity of Candle Scents customers.

Candle Scents has slowly but surely been raising funds for the Cancer and Wellness Centre at ERH, by simply asking for a gold coin donation for any gift wrapping.

Bard Loader from Candle Scents said the fundraising was close to home for her, after losing her father to cancer.

“We were raising funding for palliative care chairs for Dad, and then the Cancer Wellness Centre was built, and we donated directly to them,” she said.

“That’s how it came about. We decided it was a good idea to start doing it.”

Having lost her father to cancer, Ms Loader said helping other local families had become a cause close to her heart.

“Having been through it with family, and just knowing how difficult it was at the time. I just hope that in some way we can help other families and make it easier for them,” she said.

“Making the best of what they’ve got, what time they’ve got left, if that be the scenario, or help them in other ways.”

Ms Loader said when they started the fundraising, she never knew it would grow to be anything like this.

“We’ve nearly raised up to $25,000 over five years now,” she said.

“But really, we just supply the paper and the ribbon and the labour, but it’s really our customers who are donating the money towards what we’re doing. Without our customers, we couldn’t do it.”

Previous donations have helped purchase equipment for the Cancer and Wellness Centre and funded wellbeing initiatives for patients, including massage therapy to help manage pain and improve comfort during treatment.

Ms Loader said the opening of the Cancer and Wellness Centre had made an enormous difference for local families.

“Many people used to have to drive to Bendigo daily to get treatments and that sort of thing, whereas now it’s all available here,” she said.

“If we can help local people in some way get through that and make it a bit easier, that’s what we aim to do.”

She said supporting local health services was something the whole community could get behind.

“You never know when you’re going to need it yourself, do you?” Ms Loader said.

“Everybody’s been touched by cancer in some way. So we’re so blessed to have it in town now.”

While Candle Scents provides the gift wrap, Ms Loader said the real credit belonged to the customers who continued to support the fundraiser.

“That’s what I really want to get across. It’s our wonderful customers who donate and make this sort of fundraising possible,” she said.

“We just provide the paper and the ribbon, they provide the donations.”

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Saturday, 20th December 2031

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