Wodonga Middle Years College is planning a Survivor theme day on the last day of term to raise money for the Albury Wodonga Regional Cancer Centre.

The event will join the barbecues, morning and afternoon teas and footy colours days being held by organisations across the Border during Sunshine Week, September 17-23.

Held for the first time last year, Sunshine Week encourages schools, businesses, sporting clubs and community groups to organise functions that support the centre.

Fundraising manager Jane Evans said the 2016 Sunshine Week raised more than $60,000 with the help of 58 community and individual events. The idea of a dedicated week arose in response to many people approaching the new Albury Wodonga Regional Cancer Centre offering support.

“We want the cancer centre to shine and we want the patients themselves to shine and to overcome their battle with cancer,” Mrs Evans said. “Being September, everyone’s had that dreary winter, chilly winter, so get out in the sunshine, have a morning tea or a barbecue or something at your business or school or community group and raise funds.”

The cancer centre trust will hold three events, a family fun day at Kinross Woolshed, Thurgoona (September 17), charity golf day at Commercial Club Resort (September 22) and a Rutherglen winery tour (September 23).

Albury-born country singer Hayley Jensen will perform at the family fun day.

Mrs Evans said a fundraising project might be small but each contribution assisted the centre.

“If everyone gave a gold coin in our medical footprint, in our catchment, we’d have a quarter of a million dollars, so it all makes a difference,” she said.

Wodonga Middle Years College hopes its Survivor theme day can match the total of $1000 it raised in last year’s Sunshine Week.

Teacher Emma Plunkett said the students would dress up in house colours and complete challenging activities to earn points.

“It’s a lot of team building and collaboration,” she said.

The student leadership group had wanted to take part in Sunshine Week.

“They come up with things that they’re passionate about and causes that they want to support,” Mrs Plunkett said.

“We all know someone, whether it be a colleague or a friend or a family member that’s had a cancer journey, so we feel as a school it’s really important to get behind this cause and raise as much money as we can.” 

To register an event visit sunshineweek.com.au or call (02) 6064 1538.