Community members from Penrith, Lithgow, Bathurst and Oberon rallied together on Sunday, September 8 to raise funds for Lithgow local Briony Sheather, who recently received the news that her cancer has returned.
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The fundraiser 'Ride for Briony', raised a total of $15,035 and according to event organiser, Penrith man Ian Lee, it went much better than anticipated.
"The original plan was to have 10 riders but we ended up with over 50 riders and 40 cars taking part in the ride from Penrith to Tarana," he said.
He also said 450 sausage sandwiches were sold on the day and the auction ran by LJ Hooker's Jamie Giokaris, made $8000.
"There was so much fundraising on the day," he said.
Mr Lee said although he wasn't a local, he enjoyed the way in which everyone came together to help someone in a time of need.
"The community spirit warmed my heart," he said.
"I just wanted to do something to help out, one small gesture turned out to be a huge family fun day."
He also wanted to thank those who were involved in organising the event and those who got behind it.
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"It was a beautiful day," he said.
In a Facebook post, Briony's husband Mark stated he and Briony were "blown away with the support and love the community has".
"I would like to thank everyone for their time and the effort to make Briony's bucket list a reality, just goes to show how many people care. We really feel the love at the moment which makes a pretty sh*t situation a little easier to handle.
"Ian Lee and Shantal Taylor none of this would have been possible without you, as well as everyone else who donated items money and their time on a Sunday for us and our little family.
"Something that started out as a little coffee run to becoming what it was today was just amazing. We wish we could thank everyone individually but there were so many but just know that we love and appreciate each and everyone of you."
Businesses who donated:
- Thompson's Bolts & Bearings, Triple 8 Carwash, Hartley Fresh & Cafe, Sportspower Lithgow, Erin's Quality Outdoor Power Centre, Tupperware - Hayley Quinlin - Lithgow, Party Lite - Cathy Highley - Lithgow & Chris Lane - Oberon, Steve's Auto Barn - Blackheath, Mitre 10 - Blackheath, Lithgow Harvey Norman, Rockman's Lithgow, Pacific Furniture Lithgow, Helping Hands Bookkeeping & Accounting, Adam's Shed, Lake Lyell, Superior Packaging - Lawson, Prime Meats, Sunnyridge Butchers, Blackheath Butchery, Williams & Sons Butchery, Sweety's Cake House, Cooks Anything - Ang Richardson - Lithgow, Jamie's Cakes, Woolworths Lithgow, Coles Lithgow, Giggles Party Hire, Lithgow Party Hire, Eves Lithgow, R&K Workwear, Watersedge - Hampton, J.R Mining, Blue Mountains Special Event Hire, K-Teens, Crane-Co - Campbelltown, R&K Gas, Hartley Lolly Bug, Williams Shoes Lithgow, Park Lane Jewelry - Bargo, Naturally by Nature, JG Lock Safe & Security, Dimmeys, Lithgow Valley Outdoor Specialists, Rob Minner Electrical, Prouds Lithgow, Western Pumps, Lithgow Valley Engineering, Bliss Hair Creations, Lithgow Glass, Lean & Bennett, Intimate Dreams, Top to End Hair Studio, Good Earth, Bike Stop, Blooms the Chemist, Doughtery's Pharmacy, Hallies Plumbing Services, Henry Plant Hire, All that Glitters - Kelly Aspinall - Lithgow, Scentsy - melted by Emmy, Karen Edwards Photography, Maxiquip - Ingleburn, Central Cranes - Lithgow, Mangan Logging - Oberon, Truck & Tractor - Bathurst, Gilbert & Roach Huntingwood, L.J Hooker, Ben Dickison - Bathurst, Oberon Pies & Pastries.
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