The winners’ podium from the running race which helped to raise more than $12,000 for cancer patients: 2nd - Jaz ‘Sizzle’ Hall; 1st- Sally ‘Thongs’ Cofield; 3rd - Courtney ‘Hot Chippies’ Haigh.
Yarrawonga Lion and breast cancer survivor Debbie Van Corler OAM founded the Turban Angels in 2011 out of a need to provide her mother Edie with a head covering to disguise hair loss during treatment for bowel cancer.
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Since then Debbie has overseen the supply of more than 87,000 turbans to cancer patients across Australia and around the world.
Up the river in Albury in 2004, and after watching the movie ‘Calendar Girls’, Chris Thomas invited photographer Suzy Watson and breast cancer nurse Jenny Black, to join her in making their own calendar, featuring locals diagnosed with cancer as the monthly 'stars' to raise money for cancer patients.
This month, Corowa’s Cien Downing brought the two charities together with a fundraising event at Corowa Hockey/Cricket Clubs to raise money for the Albury Wig Library.
The theme for the night was Aussie icons and was designed as a fun, tongue-in-cheek event, with many of the 100 attendees dressing up as quintessentially Australian icons such as the thong, the Bunnings sausage sizzle, a Sherrin football, and more.
“I attended both charity bases leading up to the event to see for myself what an amazing job these volunteers do and how funds raised would help,” Cien said.
“What they do is lifechanging, providing confidence, femininity and normality to both women and children; there are also options for men.
“These real-life Angels show you how kindness can make change.”
Toni Evans (L) dressed as Corowa icon Leesa D'Amico, Cien ‘Sharon’ Downing and Leesa D'Amico.
The main feature of the fundraising event was a running race with 12 local legends.
Runners were auctioned off with 50 percent going to charity and 50 percent going to a prize pool.
There was also a race raffle where you could buy raffle tickets and put them in your favourite runners’ bucket.
The order the runners finished was the order their buckets were used to draw the race raffle.
With Corowa and surrounds donating close to $7,000 in prizes for the race raffle, there were more than 30 hampers up for grabs, each generously filled with vouchers and goods.
The race was won by Sally Cofield in her thong themed suit, who announced on the podium that she and Wade Cofield, from Meat on the Murray, would donate $1,000 to the cause.
Bravehearts girls Simone ‘Sandy’ Russell and Jenny ‘Dame Edna’ Black.
“These fundraisers are in honour of my beautiful mum, Heather Argus, fondly known as Big Red,” Cien said.
“Our community needs to take a bow, especially in the current times; they have dug deep to help others.
“With their help we raised $12,272, which will be distributed between the two charities.
Debbie Van Corler from the Yarrawonga Lions Club Turban Angels said being selected to be part of the proceeds from the fundraising event was fabulous news.
“We’re proud to help our clients going through their cancer journey,” Debbie said.
“We feel it’s a privilege to provide beautiful free headwear to give back both dignity and freedom to those suffering from the insidious disease.
“In the past we’ve donated our headwear to many groups, oncology wards, and cancer centres across Australia plus nine countries; our latest delivery is heading to the Sweden Ghana Medical Centre.”
The Turban Angels now supply turbans to Thrive Boutique in Corowa, run by Kylie Witherden, and have already been utilised by local cancer patients.
For more information contact Turban Angels through the Yarrawonga Lions Club at lions201v6.org.au/turban-angels/ and the Albury Wig Library at braveheartsonthemurray.com.au.
