A Margaret River region fundraising effort to support the national Love Your Sister #BigHeartProject campaign has raised over $400 to be donated to cancer research.
Led by local resident Sophie Marinoni, the drive focused on the collection of five cent pieces, thought to be on the chopping block after the head of the Royal Australian Mint admitted the coin’s days were numbered.
Australians were asked to gather the coins they had lying around the house, car and office as well as having the opportunity to contribute online by buying ‘lengths’ of coins for a donation.
Ms Marinoni heard of the project and decided to support the cause by asking local businesses to display collection tins.
“It went really well, for something that was only a week in the making, I was really pleased with how it turned out,” she said.
“I put a post on Facebook asking local businesses if I could place a tin on their front counter, and after about half a dozen responses, I sent out a bulk email to every single email address I could find on Google.”
“We ended up with eight tins around town, which is awesome.”
The collection culminated in a gathering at Thompson Estate Vineyard, where supporters created a heart from the donated coins.
“It was amazing, I honestly thought it would be one of my volunteers and I out there, but as soon as we got out there we had people ready with their donations, chipping in to the heart.
“We had a lady who lost her mum when she was just 11, and another lady whose toddler has just only just finished her chemotherapy.
“It was a great day and we are very proud of the local effort towards the cause.”
Nationally the campaign raised over $2.2 million, with the Royal Australian Mint called upon to help truck in four million coins to create an enormous glittering heart in Canberra last week.
Gold Logie-winning actor Sam Johnson established the Love Your Sister foundation in support of his sister Connie, who is battling terminal cancer.
For more on Love Your Sister and to contribute to the campaign visit www.loveyoursister.org