Generous spirit shines

This community spirit is what sets country towns apart from their metropolitan counterparts. 

In today’s Cootamundra Herald, we have featured two fundraisers, one for the Raleigh family (page one) and one for Adam Barnes and Independent Living (page five).

Both are extremely valuable fundraisers and worthy of attending. 

Whether these events raise $5 or $5000, the fact remains the friends and family of community members in need have banded together to help and for the families benefiting this is likely to mean more than the dollars and cents. 

When someone gets ill or had an accident, particularly when it wasn’t expected, it is easy to feel helpless. 

Fundraising is a positive way of providing support when it feels like there is little else that can be done. 

It won’t take much for most people in Cootamundra to see themselves in Jack Raleigh or Adam Barnes; both are family men – husbands, fathers and hard workers in their day jobs. 

It is not only their lives turned upside down by a stroke in Jack’s case and multiple sclerosis in Adam’s case, it is the lives of their wives and children. 

Work stops but life goes on; bills still need to be paid and medical expenses don’t come cheap.  

Remember the great community we live in and give generously when the time comes.

Hats off to those people organising these respective fundraisers for further advancing Cootamundra’s image as generous, giving town.

Meanwhile, with Adam in need of $100,000 to get him to Russia, others are raising their hand to help. 

On Saturday, March 25, Cootamundra’s Ruth McDevitt will walk 22 kilometres from the Cootamundra Post Office to Wallendbeen raising funds for Adam. 

Ruth is collecting sponsorship from individuals for her walk with forms available at the Sutton Street Store, Baz and Kaz’s Takeaway, the Cootamundra Herald and from Ruth. 

A Colour Run will also be held on Saturday, April 22 for Adam, an event open to all ages and fitness levels.