The ninth annual Brave Hearts Fundraising Luncheon on Saturday, June 23, which brings the region’s women together to share stories and raise money, and awareness, for breast cancer over a long lunch was again a sellout.

“It’s a fantastic day, and after today we should be close to $100,000,” Mrs Kent said of the Brave Hearts on the Murray fundraiser.

“The money doesn’t go out of town, it stays local and that’s why people are so generous and have been so good.”

Brave Hearts is a Border-based support network for sufferers and survivors of cancer.

Member for Farrer Sussan Ley was the guest speaker at this year’s lunch, which featured music, raffles and a silent auction.

North Albury Football Club also auctioned players jumpers after Saturday’s Ovens and Murray match against Myrtleford as part of the fundraising campaign.

“It’s a good, fun day and it’s a good catch up for everyone,” Mrs Kent said.

“Some of the girls really look forward to the once-a-year catch up.

“It’s very exciting.”

Mrs Kent was introduced to the work of Brave Hearts through friends Di Laundess and Jenny Black, and the former North Albury netballer said supporting a local group was an easy decision.

“Some of the girls played netball here and they used to do a raffle outside,” Mrs Kent said.

“I thought ‘it’s freezing cold and they’re outside selling raffle tickets, we can do better than that’.

“So then we decided we’d do a lunch and it has just got bigger and bigger.

“It’s booked out every year.”

This year’s lunch was a milestone one for Mrs Kent, who will stand down to spend more time with her husband who has been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease.

““I’ve been doing it for nine years, this is my last year,” she said.

“I’m just just taking a back seat for a bit.”

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Because community matters: A letter from the editor