Grand effort from Coles North Lakes raises much-needed funds for kids with cancer

The team at Coles North Lakes crushed their fundraising goal and raised $1127 in Redkite’s Crunch 4 Kids with Cancer Challenge, a physical sit-ups and fundraising challenge in support of the leading childhood cancer support charity.

Coles North Lakes Store Manager, Cherokee Berrier, wanted to raise funds for Redkite, who supported 132 families around the northern Brisbane region last year and encouraged her team to join the challenge after their regular fundraising fun run couldn’t go ahead because of COVID-19 restrictions.

Ms Berrier said that staff members would do their daily exercises before their shifts in the loading bay at the store and she noticed the challenge created a positive, healthy start to their day.

“We also added in extra exercises after the crunches like push-ups, planks and star jumps. Some of my team members have not done a sit-up in over 20 years and now they complete them daily. It is such a blessing seeing them improve and the pride it brings them,” Ms Berrier said.

Redkite provides essential support to families going through childhood cancer such as free online, video and phone counselling; fuel and grocery vouchers to keep food on the table and fuel in the car, and financial assistance to keep lights on at home. The national charity also funds music therapists and social workers in children’s cancer wards around the country.

Redkite CEO, Monique Keighery thanked everyone at Coles North Lakes who participated in the challenge, as the money raised will help meet the steep rise in demand for Redkite’s services since the outbreak of COVID-19. In April alone, the number of support sessions delivered to families was 60% higher than the 2019 monthly average.

“I want to thank everyone who made our first Crunch 4 Kids with Cancer Challenge such an outstanding success. You are making a big difference in the lives of so many families who have a child with cancer,” Ms Keighery said.