"We are over the moon."
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That is how motor neurone disease charity ball organiser Kylie Zanesco has described the fundraising efforts from the community after the total funds raised from the event cracked the six figure mark.
The charity ball on September 14 was aimed at raising funds for the Macquarie University MND Research Centre's research into a cure for the disease, with the grand total of money raised off the back of the event coming to $110,006.30.
Organiser of the event Kylie Zanesco said it was fantastic to see the money raised surpass their expected goal.
"The goal was $100,000," Mrs Zanesco said.
Mrs Zanesco said the funds raised will provide the centre's biobank - which stores DNA and tissue samples for ongoing analysis - with funds to keep the program running for 12 months.
"They were blown away that a small community could raise so much money," said Mrs Zanesco.
The event, which saw more than 500 people pack into the Yoogali Club for the evening, aimed to raise awareness of what effect the disease can have on individuals and Mrs Zanesco said the event also succeeded on that front.
"That's what we wanted to do, raise awareness for motor neurone," Mrs Zanesco said.
"Professor Gilles Guillemin [who presented on the evening] made people so aware of motor neurone and its effects and causes.
"We've had people talking about it since then."
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While the ball is in the books, Mrs Zanesco said another event is not immediately planned but something to consider for the future.
"I think we'll always continue to try and raise awareness and funds," she said.
"But we might do something next year [or] the year after."
However, Mrs Zanesco said the event could not have been made possible without the generosity of the community.
"Like I said on the night, thank you to the businesses, thank you for the people who attended and thank you to strangers because we had complete strangers coming in and supporting us," she said.
Fellow organiser Laurie Zanesco said the night went by in a blur but thanked the community for their support.
"I think everyone had a great night, the auction went well, the raffle went well," Mr Zanesco said.
"The night went like that, before you knew it it was midnight!
"There are some amazing people in Griffith."
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