Smart way to celebrate Christmas in July

Smart way to celebrate Christmas in July

These mortgage brokers raised more than $31,000 in one night for kids' cancer research. 

Mortgage brokers, Smartline Cleveland, held their seventh annual Christmas in July fundraiser on Friday 21 July 2017 at the historic Grand View Hotel, Queenlsand’s oldest licensed pub.

Karen Le Comte, Director of Smartline Cleveland, described the evening as the biggest and best event yet which saw more than $31,000 raised for The Kids’ Cancer Project in the space of five hours.
 
“This year we had over 120 people attend the night, including Col Reynolds, Founder of The Kids’ Cancer Project. Most of the guests that come along and support our small office each year are my local business partners and clients. It really is amazing what a group of people can achieve and the generosity of our local community,” said Ms Le Comte.
 
Back in 2011, the first ever Christmas in July event was hosted when Ms Le Comte received the news that the three-year-old son of a long-term friend and client had been diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a form of cancer that children aged five and under are most commonly affected by.
 
Ms Le Comte felt compelled to do something special for this little boy to lift his spirits and to raise much needed funds for the scientific research that could improve his outcome. That first Christmas in July raised $10,000.

"I was so motivated by this result and humbled by the support of those I knew in the community that I decided I would do this every year," Ms Le Comte explained. "Seven years on we have raised over $120,000 for The Kids’ Cancer Project. We are only a small office of four, but the support we rally up makes a big impact."

The Grand View Hotel has provided the venue and catering for the event for the past four years and Karen says they won’t go anywhere else as long as Ben Brock and his team are still there.
 
“Ben has been a major sponsor and supporter since our first event there four years ago. The staff and organisation has always been exceptional and Ben always goes the extra mile to get donations from his suppliers for our raffles and auctions, and always ensures we get the most for our money to ensure the maximum amount goes to the charity.”
 
Smartline are quick to acknowledge all their other major sponsors such as REA Group, Redlands Realty, Subzero Projects and Beachsea Brisbane.

Melissa Sherrin, Director of Subzero Projects said, “The Kids’ Cancer Project continue to achieve groundbreaking research milestones to ultimately one-day cure childhood cancer and are just an amazing group of people who dedicate their lives to helping sick children and their families make it through this cruel disease, it’s the least we can do to support Karen and the Smartline team with this cause."

Ms Le Comte said the team are already thinking about next year’s event and anyone who would like to make a donation for childhood cancer, attend the event to help raise more donations for kids’ cancer research or be involved in any way should get in touch with Erin Le Comte, Smartline’s Office Manager, at elecomte@smartline.com.au.