By Alana Mitchelson
A BERWICK high tea fund-raiser was held during the Spring Racing Carnival to empower women and men from diverse communities who would normally not be able to go to the likes of the Melbourne Cup or Oakes Day, to dress up while supporting a worthy cause.
About 160 guests congregated on the wedding lawn and rose garden on Sunday 6 November at Wilson Botanic Park to raise money for the Cyril Dharmawardana Foundation that supports cancer patients locally and overseas.
Special guest speaker Dr Chantel Thornton, a breast cancer surgeon who has been named among Australia’s Top 100 Women of Influence, works at the Epworth Hospital, Peter McCallum Cancer Centre and St Vincent’s Breast Screen.
Cyril Dharmawardana Foundation (CDF) secretary Barbara De Saram said prizes were awarded for the best dressed male, female and couple as well as the runners-up.
Canapes were served with champagne and other refreshments.
The CDF Cancer transport service is an Australian-based charity that supports the Peter McCallum Cancer Centre and works closely with the Royal Flying Doctors Service.
It provides free transport to terminally ill patients in under-privileged communities in Sri Lanka to access treatment from hospital and return back home again.
For more information, visit cyrildharmawardanafoundation.org.
