An astounding community gathering on Saturday night proved just how much we care about ending cancer.
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And if that care could be put into numbers it would be $281,000, the total amount raised for St Vincent's Hospital cancer research.
Organised by the Macri family in honour of Angelo Macri junior, who passed away aged 34 from cancer two years ago, fundraising efforts through selling raffle tickets and a memorial dinner attended by 780 people have broken records.
It's the largest ever community fundraiser held for St Vincent's, according to Jennifer Mastras from the Curran Foundation.
Angelo Macri Senior, Angelo's father, said he had traveled around the area for six months selling over 2000 raffle tickets to win a brand, spanking new Chevrolet Comaro.
"We raised over $200,000 just in raffle tickets alone," Mr Macri explained.
"It's just incredible, the support we have received."
The idea of raffling off a car came from Angelo himself before he passed.
"He said to me, I would like to buy a car and raffle it to raise money for cancer research. He passed before he was able to do it. So we decided to honour his wishes and do it for him."
He is a force of nature. I have made a personal commitment to Angelo and the family that funds will be spent where they're needed in cancer research.
- Associate Professor Richard Gallagher
The memorial night raised a further $81,000. It was a night two years in the making.
"The support of the community was unbelievable - to have that many people in a room who know the Macri family and know what they've been through, highlights the spirit of whole communities in Australia pulling together in times of need," Ms Mastras said.
Special guest Associate Professor Richard Gallagher, director of cancer services at St Vincent's Health Network in Sydney, said it was an honour to meet Mr Macri and the extended family.
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"He is a force of nature. I have made a personal commitment to Angelo and the family that funds will be spent where they're needed in cancer research," he said.
Mr Gallagher has been caring for patients from Griffith and the surrounding areas for more than twenty years.
The dinner coincided with the announcement Mr Gallagher and colleague Dr Brett Leavers, also an ENT surgeon at St Vincent's, are starting a monthly clinic at St Vincent's Griffith to open in April.
