Melbourne Cup Day 2015 was a big day for the country with our very first female jockey taking the win on an unlikely contender “Prince of Penzance”. In the lead up to the race that stops the nation the staff and guests of Salsa Bar & Grill were getting ready to put their best foot and dollars forward in a bid to raise money for local Breast Support Group “Pink in the Tropics”.
With breast cancer now affecting one in eight women in Australia, the need for support during this time is paramount to assist in dealing with the disease. For this reason Salsa rallies alongside local businesses and residents to gather at Salsa on Melbourne Cup Day, transforming the white Queenslander into a sea of pink and white in a bid to support our local women and their families.
This year the funds raised blitzed last years efforts by almost $2,000 with total funds raised from Calcutta tickets, raffle, auction and donations from Salsa resulting in over $6,000. Annie Richardson from Pink in the Tropics said she was “overwhelmed by the generosity shown by all the contributing businesses, attending guests and of course Salsa Bar & Grill.” Annie and the PITT team’s main goal are to raise awareness of the support that the group bring to the region and let anyone who is struggling with the disease to reach out if they need.
The primary role provided by the volunteers of Pink in the Tropics is to provide as much information and support to those who are suffering including but not limited to monthly support meetings; assistance during treatment including house cleaning & delivery of meals; as well as providing sufferers with a full information pack to ease their stress as much as possible. Annie welcomes anyone in the region who may wish to donate to the cause to go to their website or to contact the Neighbourhood Centre. www.pinkinthetropics.org.au
“Each year we gain more support from the community to be able to raise this level of funding to charity groups in our area and we couldn’t be more appreciative. We look forward to smashing this years goal again next year and helping as many people as we can”, said Rhys Bawden, Director of Salsa Bar & Grill.
Contributing to the success of the event three major auction items were provided including Bali Hai thanks to Executive Retreats; Mandalay Luxury Apartments as well as the infamous Salsa 666 Dinner. The auction alone raised $2600. Salsa would like to congratulate the following businesses for their contribution to the event including Sassi Cuccina e Bar; Tommy Bahama; Vie Spa; The Hair Shop; Image Bank Australia; Lure Restaurant; Jennifer Campbell for Hair; Tropical Journeys; The Beauty Room; The Mexican; Palmer Sea Reef; Mii Nails; TShinta; Flash Lash by Gail; U Beauty by Jodi; Paddy’s Irish Pub; Zinc Restaurant; Portico Pizza; Port Douglas Laundry; Casa Mia; and finally our major contributors Mandalay Luxury Apartments & Executive Retreats.
