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By Carole Lander
LUNCH FOR A CAUSE
More than 240 ladies recently attended the fifth Charity and Fun Ladies Luncheon for Cystic Fibrosis in Melbourne .
It was party time in the RACV Club ’ s rooftop banquet room , with everyone dressed to the nines . However , for the little girl who sparked the idea behind the luncheon – nine-year-old Ellie- May – life isn ’ t always fun every day . She was born with cystic fibrosis , a genetic condition that affects the cells that produce mucus , sweat and digestive juices . It causes these fluids to become thick and sticky so that they plug up tubes , ducts and passageways .
Every day Ellie-May takes 25 tablets . She also has physiotherapy , various exercises and inhaled nebulizer treatments . Twice a year she spends two weeks in hospital with IV antibiotics and intense physiotherapy , which means she misses a lot of school .
Ellie-May ’ s mother , Jennifer Jury , came up with the luncheon idea in
2013 and her friends Jan Dalton and Belinda Pitts came on board to help . The annual luncheon has been a great success with more people attending each year and it has raised an accumulated total funds of $ 175,300 . The money raised this year went to two organisations , Cystic Fibrosis Community Care and Cure 4CF .
Colin Lane , of comedy duo Lano and Woodley , was surprise emcee for the afternoon , immediately raising the enjoyment level another notch when he took to the stage . His main message was ‘ Empty your wallets , this is all for a good cause .’
Guest speaker was respiratory paediatrician Dr John Massie . He has been a consultant in the Department of Respiratory Medicine at the Royal Children ’ s Hospital ( Melbourne ) since 1999 ; he is an honorary Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Paediatrics at the University of Melbourne , and a Research Fellow at the Murdoch Institute .
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