Mackay Mayor’s Charity Ball reveals Cuban theme, fundraising recipients
The 2023 Mayor’s Charity Ball is promising to bring a slice of Cuba to Mackay come May, where a Havana Nights theme will celebrate and raise money for two worthy local charities.
Mackay
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Break out your fedoras and bright patterns, Havana Nights is coming to the MECC raising money for the 2023 Mayor’s Charity Ball.
Mackay mayor Greg Williamson said the theme would help attendees “feel like they’ve taken a trip to Cuba for the night”.
This year’s ball is raising money for Mackay charity Australian Street Aid Project and the newly opened ronald McDonald Family Room at Mackay Base Hospital.
ASAP founder Kayleigh Brewster began her lifesaving project in 2018 by opening Chances Cafe, a safe space for Mackay’s homeless to find a meal, employment, or medical treatment.
“There are many barriers to accessing healthcare for people experiencing homelessness, including transport, costs, disability, poor mental health, and lack of identification,” Ms Brewster said.
“We expect that this funding will allow us to eliminate many of the barriers to accessing healthcare faced by people experiencing homelessness.
“It will also enable us to assist more people to find sustainable accommodation options through case management that is targeted at people who have complex care needs.
“This funding will directly impact the lives of many disadvantaged people in our community, and we are delighted to be beneficiaries of this year‘s Mayors Charity Ball.”
A trained nurse, Ms Brewster told the Daily Mercury she hoped any funding could unlock the purchase of a fit-for-purpose travelling medical van that a nurse would operate.
Next in the project line is a “sleep bus” where those experiencing homeless can seek refuge, so there’s no doubt Havana Nights will have an impact in one way or another on Mackay’s streets.
The other fundraising recipient is Ronald Mcdonald House Charities, to assist with operations at the Ronald McDonald Family Room at Mackay Base Hospital which opened in December last year.
RMHC North Australia CEO Tamara South said in the three months since opening, the new facility had supported more than 250 local families.
The 2022 Mayor’s Charity Ball raised a record $120,000, going towards Ronald McDonald House Charities and HeartKids Mackay.
Channel 7 fishing personality Scotty Hillier returns again as emcee with the event including a three-course meal, drinks, and live music featuring the award-winning Salsa Kingz Band.
Tickets are on sale now at the MECC’s website.
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