There’s a way for anyone with a fund-raising dream to help Cancer Council Victoria’s unique program, I Will for Cancer.
ON Saturday mornings, Peter Saunders heads to Port Melbourne and puts on a wetsuit before inching warily into the bay. The 52-year-old Essendon resident is training for next February’s Ironman Melbourne, held in Frankston.
He swims methodically from pier to pier, back and forth over and over again. His efforts grow in stature when he reveals a susceptibility to hypothermia and, more startlingly, a fear of the ocean since childhood.
‘‘From when I saw Jaws in 1972,’’ Saunders says, without any hint of jest. ‘‘I kid you not, ever since then I’ve had a fear of being in the water.’’
It begs the immediate question of why the father of two would subject himself to such self-torture. ‘‘Because my fear of not finishing the event is greater than my fear of swimming in the ocean,’’ he declares.
The event, however, is just one component of Saunders’ motivation. Another reason he is taking the plunge is a unique program run by the Cancer Council, I Will for Cancer, where everyday people can dream up a fund-raising idea to support the cause.
Last year, Melburnians Karan Singh and Ashleigh Leech raised $2000 after organising a half-day marathon session of illustrations they called Half of Us.
Castlemaine youngsters Marli Ollerton and Tegan Benham-Bannon made 1000 origami cranes and raised more than $3000.
They were inspired by Sadako Sasaki of Japan, who was diagnosed with leukemia but refused to give up hope and pledged to make 1000 origami cranes because there is a belief in Japan that if you make 1000 cranes you will be granted a wish by the gods. Sadly she died aged 12 in 1955 after making 644 cranes.
Quirkier fund-raising ideas have included a pair who dressed up as a tortoise and a hare and cycled from Sydney to Melbourne.
Saunders, a grade 5 teacher at Overnewton Anglican Community College, has competed in several triathlons and had always wanted to tackle an Ironman, which involves a 3.8-kilometre swim, 180-kilometre bike ride and 42-kilometre run.
Saunders says depression is another reason behind his fund-raiser. In January this year, on a trip to his parents’ homeland of Romania, he slipped on ice and broke four ribs. He also has a permanent calf injury, which means he will be forced to walk rather than run. It will take him about seven hours for the run leg and he will likely cut a lone figure. The prospect doesn’t faze him.
He hopes to break 15 hours for the event, with competitors considered an Ironman if they finish within 17 hours. ‘‘The idea of me doing the Ironman in the first place was in a way a bit of a personal celebration for myself having overcome depression and the rib injury.
‘‘I then started to think ‘you know what, that’s actually a bit of a selfish thing because it’s all about me’. I wanted it to be much more. I started to think ‘what can I do?’ Cancer came to my mind pretty quickly.’’
Saunders hopes to raise $5000 but admits to some doubt about completing the event. ‘‘It does go through my mind,’’ he says. “That actually is a catalyst for me making whatever psychological or physical changes I need to to overcome those things so I can reach my goal. That’s the difference between success and not succeeding.’’
Hoppers Crossing 22-year-old Nicholas Furnari was attracted to I Will for Cancer in 2011. He held a classic car and bike show called Show N Shine at the back of his father’s business, Showroom Finish Smash Repairs, for the cause, attracting more than 100 cars and raising $12,000.
Furnari’s mother was diagnosed with bowel cancer two years ago and successfully battled the disease. ‘‘Once mum went through it, we sat down and thought we want to raise money but get the whole community involved,’’ he says.
‘‘Everyone has their own hobbies and we’ve worked around that. Ours is cars and we thought that would be our best way of raising money.’’
The success spurred Furnari to make it an annual event, and the third installment will take place in late September at the Werribee Civic Centre.
‘‘Being a big car community around this area we knew we’d get the numbers, and a lot of people came out to support us,’’ Furnari says of the first event.
‘‘I just wanted to raise as much money as possible to go towards cancer research and hopefully it will benefit someone in the long run.’’ Furnari’s dad’s fully restored sky blue Holden HK Premier, which he has owned for a decade, will be one of the classic cars on show this year.
Furnari says people can expect to see a variety of Australian and American muscle cars. Cancer Council Victoria will have a stand set up on the day with information packs for the public.
An average of 78 Victorians are diagnosed with cancer every day and more than 10,000 Victorians lose their lives to cancer each year – 35 times the state’s annual road toll.
Around one-third of cancers can be prevented through simple lifestyle choices such as healthy eating and regular exercise.
Furnari says his family is thankful his mother overcame the disease and he wants to help others.
‘‘It was very hard as a family,’’ he recalls.
“I’ve got a younger brother and younger sister and they found it hard to comprehend. We worked our way through it as a family and came out the other end.
‘‘It’s hard. It’s not knowing what the outcome may be. Trying to mentally support them. And just working as a family and becoming stronger.
“We’re very thankful. You don’t want anyone to go through it. It’s not pleasant.’’
Furnari says another reward in running the event has been the feedback from people.
‘‘People coming through the gate. We only had a small entry fee and the amount of people who came through and said ‘here take this. I’m battling cancer myself’ as they drove through in their own car.
“It’s outstanding, the impact you can make.’’
» The Show N Shine Cancer Council Victoria classic car and bike fund-raiser will be held on Sunday, September 29, at the Werribee Civic Centre, 45 Princess Highway, Werribee.
» Details: Nicholas Furnari on 0431 969 757. I Will for Cancer, visit www.iwill.org.au
