MINING industry players and the law fraternity have played a major role in bringing a unique cancer treatment centre to life.
Balya, based at Gidgegannup, is designed to let cancer sufferers and their families know that cancer is not a death sentence.
Stage one of the centre has been completed and funds are being sought to complete stage two.
One of the key parts of stage two is extra on-site accommodation. At the moment, families in Gidgegannup are billeting visitors to Balya.
Thundelarra chairman Phil Crabb is one of the driving forces behind the fundraising for Balya.
Fellow mining industry player, Sally Malay managing director Peter Harold, is another of the major fundraisers.
Besides those two, a host of mining industry and stock broking identities have played a part.
Civil contracting suppliers Henry Walker Eltin, Monadelphous, and Westrac have all had a role in getting the construction of the centre under way.
Centre patrons are Bill Wyllie, chief justice David Malcolm, and Tom Percy QC. Centre founder Ivy Bullen said the centre aimed to teach cancer sufferers as much as possible about their disease.
“It’s to give them hope to keep on living for as long as they can live,” Dr Bullen said.
Mr Crabb said he had become involved in the centre through his fund efforts to raise $5.8 million for the Cancer Council’s Crawford Lodge.
“That lodge was for country people who had to come to Perth for their cancer treatments,” he said.
“I could also see there was a great need for a place to help people come
to terms with the fact that they have cancer.”
Mr Harold said his involvement had come through Mr Crabb, although he had a personal reason for taking part.
“My mother died of breast cancer a few years ago and I’ve felt I would like to do something for cancer sufferers,” he said.
As of December, Balya had raised $1.2 million out of its total of $4.4 million.
