Stars on song at Sony Foundation’s River4Ward lunch for youth cancer

An all-star fundraiser co-headlined by Delta Goodrem, Guy Sebastian, The Veronicas and David Campbell at Crown Aviary has raised $810,000 to fight youth cancer.

The Veronicas at the Sony Foundation’s River4Ward lunch at Crown Aviary. Picture: Tony Gough

An all-star fundraiser for youth cancer co-headlined by Delta Goodrem, Guy Sebastian, The Veronicas and David Campbell has raised $810,000.

The music stars performed at the River4Ward lunch at Crown Aviary on Thursday in front of a who’s who crowd including Michael Gudinski, Eddie McGuire, Nick Riewoldt and Sony Music Australasia chief executive Denis Handlin.

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The Sony Foundation event raises money and awareness in the fight against youth cancer. Initiatives include the You Can Centre at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, a haven for 15-25-year-olds with cancer, to get age-appropriate treatment and peer support.

David Campbell and Rebecca Maddern at the River 4Ward lunch. Picture: Tony Gough

Giaan Rooney and Nick Riewoldt. Picture: Tony Gough

Michael Gudinski. Picture: Tony Gough

Delta Goodrem and Guy Sebastian. Picture: Tony Gough

Natalie Bassingtwaighte. Picture: Tony Gough

“This 15-25 bracket is very vital in this country,” Campbell said. “We seem to focus on young kids with cancer, older people with cancer, but we must not forget this little catchment area here.”

Sufi Aidah Salieh, 21, who is recovering from treatment for kidney cancer, said at the event: “Cancer in young person’s life presents a very unique set of challenges. It creates uncertainties … that should never be present in a young person’s life, (on issues like) relationships, university, work and fertility.”

Ms Salieh said the You Can Centre was a “haven of shelter that protects you against the stormy weather”.

“Every young cancer patient deserves a space to feel accepted, have comfort and not feel alone,” she said.

Sebastian said: “We go on about the healing nature of music and how it gets people through tough times. But this event is a nice way to see a tangible execution of it.”