If you need your presents wrapped beautifully this Christmas head on down to the Relay For Life Christmas wrapping station which will be at Castle Towers from Monday, December 6.
Castle Towers has been sponsoring the charity wrap by Hills Relay For Life volunteers for over 10 years, providing ribbon and paper, which means all the money raised can be donated to the Cancer Council for research and support programs.
Despite COVID-Restrictions, the Christmas wrap raised over $14,000 last year and in 2019 raised over $15,000 for the Cancer Council.
Hills Relay For Life volunteer and Castle Towers wrap coordinator Ruth Didsbury said this year’s wrapping station will be on level three near Peter Alexander. Volunteers will be wrapping during Castle Tower’s opening times, 9 am to 5:30 pm most days and then 9am to 9pm on Thursdays and the week leading up to Christmas.
If you have ever visited the wrapping station you would have met Ruth who has been a volunteer since wrapping started and has coordinated the multiple numbers of volunteers needed since 2016.
“I just cannot believe how generous people are with their time,” she said. “Some people come after work or on their days off to help. The generosity of the people we are wrapping presents for is always special and it is fun seeing what gifts people are buying. Castle Towers supply quality wrapping paper and we ask for a gold coin donation. There’s such a community spirit and the joy that Christmas brings.”
“It’s also an opportunity to listen to people who have been through cancer or being treated for cancer, it’s about giving support. Last year we raised over $14,000 which was amazing during the Covid pandemic. I would like to raise more than this year.
“All that money goes to the Cancer Council and goes towards research but it also support programs run by the Cancer Council, it helps people during financial hardship, provides free legal help and financial advice. It’s really important to our volunteers to know that they are helping support that process.”
Volunteers are always needed. If you can help wrap for one or more two-hour shifts between December 6th and Christmas Eve please email Ruth with the days or times you are available at [email protected].
Volunteer Darryn Capes-Davis with Ruth Didsbury at the 2019 Christmas wrap.
