The weekend after the NRL ‘Beanies 4 Brain Cancer’, former Gundagai resident Ben Lott was diagnosed with brain cancer.
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Mr Lott now lives in Newcastle but his family have been associated with Lott’s Family Hotel for many years.
Three of his friends in Gundagai, Mick Hawthorne, Brad Field and Jake Smith are rallying support for Ben to enable his to have extensive treatment for his illness abroad, having run out of options for treatment within Australia.
“Ben is 40 years old and married with two little kids and it is pretty sad for our small community,” Mick Hawthorne said.
“Brad,Jake and I were in Lott’s family Hotel talking about what we could do to raise funds for Ben to have treatment.
“This country won’t allow the treatment, so he has to go to either Texas or Japan, which will cost his family in excess of $100,000.”
Mr Hawthorne said they are keen to help the local family through a period of crisis.
Jake Smith raised awareness through his network and also by making a Facebook page which has caused a flurry of interest in the past 48 hours.
“The response from the community has been unbelievable,” Mick Hawthorne said.
Mr Smith said they are planning a stock drive and a goods and services auction to raise money in support of Ben Lott, with cattle already donated from Jugiong and Gundagai producers as well as sheep from Gundagai..
“Being in a generous area I am looking for anyone on the land who may be able to donate livestock be it sheep or cattle to be sold at the Wagga livestock selling centre,” he said.
The cattle will be auctioned on Monday 25th September and the sheep on Thursday 28th September.
“We are also asking anyone who would be willing to donate a service or any goods to be auctioned at Lott's family hotel the Saturday after the livestock sales,” he said.
“All selling fees and commission are being waved so one hundred percent of the proceeds will go to the family and all livestock will be carted for free by Hawthorne's Transport of Gundagai.”
Mr Smith said any support would be greatly appreciated and he would like to have everything wrapped by Friday 22nd September.
“We’ve had a number of local families contribute services already: Dan Linley is offering a horse breaking service in excess of two thousand dollars worth, aerial sprayers Rotor Solutions have come on board with a generous donation,” he said.
“It is about getting the community together to rally behind a family who have made a wonderful contribution to Gundagai.”
He can be contacted on 0400 281 347
