Since 2015 the Sutherland family of Belmore River has generously raised and auctioned a bullock each year to be sold at the Kempsey Stock & Land's annual steer and bullock sale, with Cancer Council being the beneficiary.
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The first occasion was in memory of Darren Sutherland's mother Cheryl who passed away in 2014 from cancer. So, in 2015, Mr Sutherland raised a charity bullock in honour of Cheryl's memory, with all funds raised going to cancer research.
Each year, after careful consideration one of the best steers is selected and grazed on the best feed to fatten up for the auction.
This year's charity bullock which weighed in at 730kg was auctioned in memory of Mrs Sutherland's father Darryl Kirkbride who, following complications passed away from Melanoma.
The auction raised over a magnificent $3286 for Cancer Council bringing the total raised over the last six years to around $25,000.
Darren's three girls who attended the auction, Issy, Amelya and Zoe wrote a message which was pinned to the bullock's pen along with their grandad's photo which read, "2019 and 2020 knocked our family with coronavirus, bushfire and cancer... but cancer hit us pretty hard with my grandad as he sadly passed with melanoma. I love him very much and I wish he were here."
Brittany Raven, Cancer Council's Community Relations Coordinator said seeing the generosity of the Kempsey community was moving.
"Attending the auction was a wonderful experience, and I would like to thank, not only the Sutherland family for their magnificent support of Cancer Council, but also the local Kempsey community who got behind the auction to help raise these incredible funds," she said.
The funds raised from the bullock auction will go towards vital cancer research as well as supporting families in the Mid North Coast through the provision of Home Help, Transport to Treatment for cancer patients and providing pro bono financial and legal assistance and counselling. And Cancer Council's Information and Support Line - 13 11 20.
If you would like to assist Cancer Council NSW in its quest to realise a cancer-free future, you can host a fundraising event your way in support of Cancer Council by registering here https://www.doitforcancer.com.au/ or contact Brittany on 6659 8416 or email brittany.raven@nswcc.org.au.