Every year the Brookfarm Lighthouse Run donates all of their proceeds to two charities – one local and one overseas. This year Rafiki Mwema was delighted to be chosen as one of those charities, alongside Lismore based Crackin’ Cancer.
Rafiki Mwema is based in Nakuru, Kenya and is a therapeutic safe house for little girls that have suffered terrible abuse. The charity is run from Lennox Head where some busy mums work to raise ALL the funds needed to run a safe house in Kenya for abused little girls, alongside running their own successful businesses.
Over the last 9 years, the Brookfarm Byron Lighthouse Run has donated $121,000 to charity.
The 2015 Brookfarm Byron Lighthouse Run held in October continues to grow each year. Featuring teams dressed up, individuals who were pumped for the occasion and a new kids dash, the event attracted a record number of entries and received very generous donations this year. Both business and community support of the event is central to its success and those involved are particularly proud that all proceeds raised are donated directly to charity.
Brookfarm and the Lighthouse Run organisers are delighted to be donating $24,000 in total this year to two very deserving organisations. $12000 of the total will go to Rafiki Mwema. Rafiki Mwema is a therapeutic safe house in Kenya for little girls that have suffered terrible abuse. The money raised from the Byron Lighthouse run will buy a much needed therapy room and equipment, so essential to their rehabilitation. Rafiki Mwema is funded by an Australian based charity set up and run by Lennox Head mums, Sarah Rosborg, Claire Harding and Nicci Meredith (and other behind the scenes legends). Each of them run their own successful businesses as well as donating many many hours to the running and funding of Rafiki Mwema.
“The money raised by the Byron lighthouse runners will buy our new therapy room, which is so essential to the rehabilitation of our girls. The run has also helped us raise much more awareness of our charity – we have a strong following in this region of people helping us to raise more money and spread the word far and wide. We are amazed at people’s generosity every single day”, said Sarah from Rafiki Mwema.
The other half of the donation total will go to benefit the Crackin’ Cancer project and will be used to purchase Computer Software for the Lismore Base Hospital. Crackin’ Cancer is a local not for profit organisation mainly dedicated to obtaining earlier and more accurate diagnosis and improved treatments for cancer patients residing in the Northern Rivers.This year Crackin’ Cancer will utilise the Brookfarm Byron Lighthouse Run money to help purchase a quality CAD (computer aided diagnosis) software system which assists in more accurate cancer diagnosis. The acquisition of a CAD system will augment the up to date equipment, already in place at Lismore Base Hospital. The aim is to get earlier more accurate cancer diagnosis, something we all know helps when cancer is involved. In addition $2000 was given to Beyond Blue on behalf of our Alstonville Osteopathy massage volunteers, this year.
“Handing over the money is a highlight of our year”, say organisers, Lisa Parkes and Brigid Kramer “Our first year, 9 years ago, we handed over a few hundred dollars, so we have grown a lot. To date with the money donated today we have given away $121,000. We love to support local cancer initiatives and incredible charities like Rafiki Mwema, and we see a natural alliance between our participation event and the healthy food provided by our major sponsor, Brookfarm”
