Digging deep to help Sam

HELPING hands dug deep on Saturday night for the family of 10-year-old Sam Carroll who is battling a rare form of cancer.

COMMUNITY EFFORT: Sam Carroll’s grandmother Kath McCabe and big brother Hugh Carroll were among the hundreds at Saturday’s fundraising trivia night. Photo: Tim Howard

HELPING hands dug deep on Saturday night for the family of 10-year-old Sam Carroll who is battling a rare form of cancer.

A trivia and charity auction was held at the Grafton District Services Club where more than 50 teams of eight took part, raising $17,000 to assist with medical expenses.

GSDC general manager Arthur Lysaught said the atmosphere was amazing and he commended the community for its kindness.

"We've seen a lot of these over the years... the generosity of this community is incredible," Mr Lysaught said. "You could travel the world and not find a more generous people than here in the Clarence Valley."

He said he was greatly impressed by one Grafton resident who, after winning the major raffle prize, returned it so it could be raffled again to raise more money.

"Retired veteran Tom Cross won the raffle and gave it straight back, saying it wasn't a time for taking but it was a time giving," Mr Lysaught said.

Mr Cross, who went along for a good night out and to make up the numbers on the Legacy table, said it seemed like the right thing to do.

"We were there to raise money for the boy and help take the heat off the family... that's all we can do."

Mr Cross lost his own wife to cancer in 2004 and said he wished the family well and was pleased to see the prize, an inflatable boat, outboard motor and a few cases of "booze", auctioned on the night raising a further $3300 for the family.

Sam's parents Adam and Angela Carroll, his brother Hugh, and several other members of his family were also in attendance.

This week Sam will undergo his third round of chemotherapy at Westmead Children's Hospital in Sydney.

Originally published as Digging deep to help Sam