TWENTY years on from her first Biggest Morning Tea, Mount Gambier’s Lois Bayre has helped raise almost $130,000 for Cancer Council research.
Spurred on by a passion to find a cure for cancer – having lost her mother to the disease around 40 years ago – Ms Bayre has grown her annual morning tea event into one of the region’s most anticipated fundraisers.
Around 30 tickets remain for the May 23 event, with 300 people expected to flock to Casadio Park where the Italo-Australian Club will host festivities.
The charity event has grown in stature each year, which has been reflected in the number of attendees, as well as support from the business sector.
“Initially I had around 26 people who were going to visit my home,” Ms Bayre said.
“I am hopeless in the kitchen and there was no way I could accommodate for them so I booked St Paul’s Hall.”
Ms Bayre said the first year attracted 120 people, with the event collecting $920.
“The next year it just got bigger and the result was $2000, with the next year resulting in $3000 and it got to the point where people wanted to come but I just did not have the room so we moved it to the RSL,” she said.
“At one stage I had 430 people attend but it was very crowded.”
Claiming she would not be able to continue if it was not for her own band of dedicated volunteers, Ms Bayre said it was her passion towards the cause which kept the event going.
“I know the money we raise is going to research and it is going to help those in need who are going through cancer treatment,” she said.
“I still have that passion there and I was thinking of retiring for a while but I still love it and adore it so I will keep going.”
The kindness and generosity from the community still shocks Ms Bayre, highlighting the amount of prizes donated each year.
“I barely have to ask now, I will just walk in and they will ask what they can donate to me,” she said.
“That obviously shows they want to be a part of all this just as much as I do.”
Now being held at the Italo Australian Club, Ms Bayre said staff at the venue were amazing.
“Once again they cannot do enough for me, they are amazing and assist in setting up beforehand or moving things around on the day,” she said.
“I just have such an amazing support network here in Mount Gambier, it is beautiful.”
Ms Bayre said she originally joined in on the Biggest Morning Tea 20 years ago in memory of her late mother.
“My beautiful mother passed away from cancer around 40-odd years ago,” she said.
“When she first passed away I would donate yearly to the Anti-Cancer Foundation and once I received a newsletter about their Biggest Morning Teas which is where it all began.
“There was no support back then as there is now but I hope in some way our team is helping to save lives and the money we are raising is going to the research needed to save lives.
“I am still so passionate so I think while the passion is there to raise money and to save lives, that is what it is all about.”
Ms Bayre’s annual event is almost sold out, with the morning tea including prizes, raffles and a fashion parade hosted by Redgum.
Contact Lois on 8725 5968 to purchase tickets.
