A NIGHT of entertainment has been arranged at the Mildura Golf Club this Saturday to raise money for a family enduring a battle with childhood cancer.
The lives of the Manning family, originally from Broken Hill but now in Mildura, were turned upside down just before Christmas, when the youngest of Rachel and Matt Manning’s four boys, Waylon, was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive bone and muscle cancer.
Since then, 10-year-old Waylon and his mother have spent a significant amount of time in Melbourne at The Royal Children’s Hospital, undergoing multiple tests, biopsies, chemotherapy and radiation.
Waylon is currently participating in an international medical trial, and the constant travel between Mildura and Melbourne has put strain on the family’s finances.
Rachel is on unpaid leave from her work in pathology, and Matt lost his truck driving job due to commitments with travelling for health appointments, and only began his new job this week.
After the family engaged with Children Having An Illness Living in Sunraysia, or CHAILIS, the charity partnered with local businesses, artists and individuals to arrange this weekend’s fundraiser to help the Manning family.
CHAILIS founder John Burfitt said the Manning family have been doing it tough, and many people are eager to help.
“It’s a very aggressive cancer that the young lad has got, and we want to make every effort to make sure he gets all the funds, so that he can get the best treatment possible,” Mr Burfitt said.
The Mildura Golf Club donated use of the premises for the night, David Storer from Mildura Entertainment donated the stage for the event, and Brad Johnson from Johnson’s Trucks donated lighting towers and portable toilets.
A range of artists are also performing pro-bono, including popular duo the Parle Brothers, who will be headlining, alongside performers including Nicole Matthews, Lyndsie Storer, Carly Maher, Tyler Ball, and Waylon’s dad Matt Manning.
Mr Manning said the family was blown away that the event was organised so quickly, and said the whole family is incredibly grateful for the support they’ve received thus far.
“I can’t say thank you enough times to everybody that’s reached out or donated or stuck their hand up to donate their time,” he said.
“We’re not people to stick the hand out and ask for help, we’re always usually the first in line to help.
“Don’t think of it as a handout, think of it as a hand up.”
Waylon has been booked in for surgery at the end of next month, and the family is hoping the cancer will have shrunk to a small enough size to allow the surgery to go ahead.
Mr Burfitt said Saturday’s fundraising event demonstrated the generosity of the business community, and said Mildura Rural City Council should consider how important it was that businesses could make time and monetary donations to charities.
“The businesses of this district have just been slugged with another interest hike and without these businesses, places like CHAILIS and that would not survive,” Mr Burfitt said.
“I know the rates have got to be spread across the board, but I think they’re wrong doing it to the businesses of the district.”
The event will begin at 6.30pm on Saturday, and 100 per cent of the funds raised from the Manning Family Fundraiser will be passed on to the family.
Tickets are available at www.trybooking.com/DBFPT, entry is $25 for 16 years and above, $10 for children aged three to 15, and free for children under three.
Those wanting to support the Manning Family but can’t attend the event are invited to make a donation online to CHAILIS, and use ‘Manning’ as a payment reference.
