The Griffith community has come out in force to support Christopher Beale’s family.
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On Monday morning Damian Thorne, along with other family and friends of Christopher, headed down to Rossies Foodworks to cook a barbecue and sell raffle tickets to raise money for the family.
Mr Thorne paid tribute to the Griffith community, who had shown a monumental amount of support to the cause.
A total of $2500 worth of goods for the raffle and barbecue was donated.
“I just rang a few (businesses)…at least 97 or 98 per cent of them donated,” Mr Thorne said.
“All the local businesses (donated), it's overwhelming.
“The community in Griffith, when tragedies happen and tragedies strike, I think we are in the best part of Australia, the community are really great.
“We just want everyone to come down and if you can’t afford to buy the raffle tickets, just buy a sausage sandwich, and even if you can’t (afford a sandwich), help in some way, come out and show your support.”
For Mr Thorne, it wasn't a matter of if he was going to help out, it was just a matter of what he was going to do to help.
“If we can help in any way, we thought yeah, we'll pull together and try to help the family,” Mr Thorne said.
“We felt compelled to do something, the family is struggling, but I mean who ain't struggling these days in today’s current climate, everything’s dear and nothing’s cheap.
“I felt we need to help the family...it’s just a burden, a funeral and all the expenses, it’s not cheap.”
Mr Thorne – who is a relative of Christopher’s mother, Karisa Undy – lives in Darlington Point near the grieving family and saw the family often.
“We live out there (in Darlington Point) with them and I see them on a daily basis,” Mr Thorne said.
“I was only talking to the family just a couple days prior to this. I was talking to the little fella (Christopher) and a day later he was gone.
“It really hits home because I’ve got children and I’m very family orientated and family minded.”
A bank account has also been set up for people to donate directly to the cause.
People can donate money to the Bendigo Bank account, BSB number: 633000 and account number: 149957763.
The Facebook page, Christopher Beale, Undy Jr Cause, has also been set up by Mr Thorne in support of the cause.
At the end of the day the Facebook page posted that a total of $2652 had been raised for the family.
The day was hailed a success by Mr Thorne.
The page also sent a big thanks to Tommy Coe, Jai Coe, Jarvis Undy, Kim James and Dusty Adams for their help and support on the day.