Last Friday night saw a regional hotel host a moving fundraiser event, generating an incredible $100,000 for the plight of sufferers of cystic fibrosis.
Camden’s newly renamed Royal Hotel – more recently known as the Merino Tavern, after a temporary change from its original regal moniker – fed and watered hundreds of guests in a launch event for this year’s fundraising for cystic fibrosis (CF).
This Saturday will see the main event: the annual DA Global/Royal Hotel CF Swimathon Macarthur, where teams of swimmers do laps of Wollondilly Leisure Centre to earn sponsor money.
Vanessa Sinclair, wife to the Royal’s licensee Martin Sinclair, told PubTIC that although this was the Hotel’s first year of sponsorship, links to the initiatives go back a long way.
“[Martin] was the general manager of the Camden Valley Inn, where the event was held for the last five years. They decided to move the event partly because of his association.
“All monies raise need to go directly to the hospital, and the Royal was happy to donate all food, staff, entertainment and facilities.”
Over 80 people live with CF in the Macarthur area, mostly children. Funds raised go to the Sydney Children’s Hospitals at Randwick and Westmead – specifically for CF treatment.
Friday’s fundraiser began with local businesses chipping in $11,000 via the Business Pledges. The live auction garnered another $20,000 with no items selling for under $500. The top earners were a donated holiday and ‘dinner experience’ for 20 people.
Mrs Sinclair confirmed their support this year is the first of many to come.
“It’s an extremely worthwhile cause, and a wonderful opportunity for the local community to come together and have a great night, while supporting something and helping the hospitals, which get very little funding from Government for CF.”
Those wishing to pledge support for the DA Global/Royal Hotel CF Swimathon Macarthur can do so HERE through Everyday Hero.
