Sport
Big Bearded Ball Drop crowns winner and raises $171,000 for cancer charity
Terry's Big Bearded Ball Drop raised more than $171,000 for Albury Wodonga Regional Cancer Centre with Benalla's Jamie Van Der Zalm winning the $10,000 top prize.
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The unique fundraiser was created to support well-known Benalla footballer Terry Greaves’ fight against cancer.
The idea behind it was to raise funds to support the Albury Wodonga Regional Cancer Centre, which has treated and helped thousands of people in Victoria and NSW over the years.
The fundraiser saw hundreds of golf balls dropped from a helicopter onto the Benalla Showgrounds Oval, with the ball closest to the pin being declared winner.
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Terry said all the hard work was worth it and he was pleased to have helped raise so much for such an important facility.
“Were all very happy about all the donations,” Terry said.
“Especially during COVID times as we know people are doing it tough, so to have so many people donate is amazing and we appreciate the generosity.
“Officially we have raised $171,000. But I know we still have some to come in and I hope we can get to about $185,000.”
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Terry said COVID-19 had a slight effect on how the fundraiser was set up, but nothing was going to stop it going ahead.
“We couldn't get enough golf balls as the manufacturer wasn't operating at the time,” he said.
“But Mansfield footy club stepped up and lent us 1500 balls. So we had to do it in two parts.
“The first was a digital lottery to pick 1500 of our donors to be assigned a ball. The next was the ball drop.”
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Once they all came down and the committee had found the ball nearest the pin it was local publican Jamie Van Der Zalm who was $10,000 richer.
“I was pretty stoked actually,” Jamie said.
“I got a call from Pete Symes at Ray White, who was out there, and he let me know I was the lucky winner.
“Which was amazing as I only bought a ticket one minute before it ended, so I was very lucky.”
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Jamie said that when he entered he was not thinking about winning and it was more about making a donation to an important medical facility.
“It's such a great cause,” he said.
“Since buying the ticket I've been finding out much more about it.
“It has been really interesting to hear the stories of customers who I didn't know had gone through cancer.
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“Or those whose partners had and it was quite moving actually.
“To have a facility that looks after so many people in regional Victoria and NSW is really important.
“It helps out so many local people which is great.”
Jamie said he and his wife were now looking to donate a portion of their winnings to charity.
“We going to donate part of it back to a cause, but we're not sure what cause just yet,” he said.
Terry said he hoped someone would take up running the fundraiser next year.
“The Albury Wodonga cancer foundation said they are thinking about doing it next year,” he said.
“It's all set up ready to go and its a pretty easy concept, so we hope someone takes it on.
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“I'd like to thank all our builders and ambassadors; and our hard working committee.
“There were about 15 of us, and without everyone's hard work this couldn't have happened.
“We are very pleased to have been able to support Albury Wodonga Regional Cancer Centre.
“It covers us in Benalla, up as far as Deniliquin, and over to Mt Beauty and Mansfield. It is one of the best regional facilities in Australia.”
● You can make a donation to the Albury Wodonga Regional Cancer centre at any time by visiting www.awh.org.au/support-us/donate
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