Gordon trades fundraise for cancer survivor

Trade students from The Gordon TAFE are collaborating to raise funds for medical treatment for local cancer survivor who is again battling the disease. 

Har Mei “Jacqui” Chew, who was previously diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2017, went into remission after six months of treatment. Her husband, Mr Wai Cheong “Des” Low, who works as a cleaner at The Gordon’s East Geelong Campus, has revealed his wife’s cancer has returned.

The news has spurred students from The Gordon’s carpentry and painting areas to combine their skills and build and decorate a cubby house to be auctioned as part of the fundraising activities. 

Students in Colac studying the Certificate III in Carpentry, along with School Based Apprenticeship students, constructed the cubby house which was then decorated by first and second year apprentices completing a Certificate III in Painting and Decorating at The Gordon’s East Geelong Campus.

Painting apprentice Jayde Richie was keen to put her skills to good use, “I really enjoyed working closely with the other students on this project, selecting and painting the different colours to create a colourful beach box theme.”

Paul Webb, painting and decorating teacher at The Gordon was excited to get the students involved in the project, “Volunteering for community projects such as this helps our students to feel good about themselves as they’re giving back. It also helps them to build relationships with their peers and grows their self-confidence when they see what they are able to achieve.”

Driving the fundraising project is David King, business manager for plumbing, carpentry and high-risk programs at The Gordon. “We wanted to do something positive for Des and his family who have already been through so much. We reached out to our students who have banded together to support and raise much needed funds for the cancer treatment,” said Mr King.

The Gordon’s plumbing students have already raised $7,000, and more fundraising projects are in the pipeline to further assist the Chew family.

For those looking to make an offer on the cubby house, with all proceeds going toward medical treatment for Mrs Chew, contact David King at dking@gordontafe.edu.au.

Images supplied by the Geelong Advertiser.