Newsagent Story: West Wyalong
West Wyalong Newsagency
NSW
[This is the letter that was sent to potential sponsors and supporters - click to view the PDF] |
On 22 November 2007, Damien Vanden Bergh and his family were left reeling in shock when his sister-in-law committed suicide. Sharlene Vanden Bergh was 29 years old and had been happily married for three years. Her family decided to turn their grief into something positive and created the Sharlene Vanden Bergh Fund. Damien organised an event to raise money for organisations that seek to increase awareness of mental health and depression in the community. Damien contacted Beyond Blue, Suicide Prevention Australia and the Black Dog Institute, as well as the Central Coast Suicide Safety Network which operated in the area where Damien's sister-in-law had lived. Next, he contacted celebrities, businesses and industry suppliers to be involved. |
 [The invitation for the event - click to view the PDF] |
"We were overwhelmed with the generosity," said Damien, "so much so that we had to turn away substantial prizes in the end to finalise arrangements." The local newspaper assisted with the promotion of the event, as did people who helped with the graphics and printing. The local radio station also supported the event. The event was held on Friday 7 March 2008 at the Terrigal Country Club from 1pm onwards. Whilst Damien had expected about 200 people to attend, over 500 turned up from about midday through to almost midnight when the last person left. The event included barefoot bowls games, interviews with celebrities and experts about mental illness, food provided by industry sponsors and even live entertainment. |
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The result? $40,000 in donations - an incredible feat. "It was a lot of work," said Damien. "It took me out of the shop for substantial amounts of time. You have to be prepared to work day and night. However it was all worth it. It creates enormous community good will." |
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 [The Central Coast News published an article about the event - click to view the PDF] |
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