Car dealers giving back

Cancer patients will benefit from the first bout of donations from a new fundraising project by Horsham and Stawell Toyota and Kia.

The Wimmera car dealers have created Car for a Cause, a project that generates monetary support for charities and organisations by putting aside a portion of profits.

In the past six months, the businesses generated $12,000 to split equally between Wimmera Health Care Group and Stawell Regional Health.

Horsham and Stawell Toyota and Kia general manager Debbie Hart said the dealers wanted to donate the first round of money to health care providers who assist cancer patients.

“Everybody is affected by cancer in some way,” she said.

Dealer principal Adrian Galvin said Car for a Cause would be ongoing and culminate in a bi-annual contribution to charities and organisations in an effort to ‘do more for the community’.

He said a portion of every car sold and financed, serviced, along with every part sold, would go towards the fundraiser.

“The success of our business relies heavily on the community in which we all live, it’s only fair we give back a bit more,” he said. “Over the decades we have contributed to a lot of sporting clubs, schools, other clubs and organisations, and this will continue. Car for a Cause is just us giving a bit more back.”

Stawell Regional Health chief executive Libby Fifis and Wimmera Health Care Group’s Carmel O’kane said they were extremely grateful for the donations. “We are delighted to be the recipients of this great local initiative,” Ms Fifis said.

“This generous donation will help us to continue to provide high-quality care for patients accessing cancer treatment at Stawell Regional Health.”