When a charitable organisation has “Help” in its name, it’s easy to see the principal values of that organisation front and centre.

Help A Mate Dubbo does exactly as its name suggests: it helps others.

Next month, Help A Mate will hold a fundraising event for the purpose of extending its help to the Dubbo branch of regional children’s charity Country Hope.

Help A Mate’s “Sip, Graze and Give” fundraiser will take place at the Castlereagh Hotel on the afternoon of Saturday, September 12, from 3-6pm.

With an event theme called “A Touch Of Gold”, inspired by Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and the associated gold ribbon, the event will provide delicious grazing-style food, a three-hour drinks package, entertainment including live music and a 360-photobooth. Attendees can also participate in various fundraising activities including 100 Clubs and auctions.

With profits from the event going directly to Country Hope Dubbo, every ticket will support the local charity that provides vital assistance to families whose children are experiencing childhood cancer or other life-threatening illnesses.

Country Hope is currently supporting 29 children across the Dubbo community, spokesperson Monique Taylor told Dubbo Photo News.

Some $140,572 has been spent in the Dubbo region over the past 12 months, she added.

“Local families we currently support are from communities including Dubbo, Geurie, Wellington, Parkes, Forbes, Neilrex, Gulgong, Obley, Baradine, Coonamble, Yeoval, Mudgee, and Gulargambone.”

Country Hope provides a range of emotional, practical, and financial support to these families.

“One example of the practical support we provide is our Travel Assistance Payment,” Monique explained.

“Our families often need to travel to Sydney for specialist appointments and treatment, which can place significant financial pressure on them.

To help ease this burden, Country Hope currently provides $300 travel assistance payments for eligible trips. This has been increased from our usual $250 in recognition of the rising fuel costs and the additional challenges faced by regional families.”

Abby Ryan from Help A Mate Dubbo said the Sip, Graze and Give event was something new for them and they were pleased to be able to continue their ongoing support for Country Hope.

“We're all about is helping those people in the community who are struggling and who may just need that little bit of backing from someone who can provide a service for them,” Abby said.

“Country Hope does some really important things in the community, raising funds and providing emotional support for local families facing childhood cancer and other life-threatening illnesses, and we are all about helping our local communities and supporting mental health,” Abby said.

“Here at Help A Mate, we thought it was a really important cause to back, and this is why we’ve decided to give all the profits from our fundraiser to Country Hope.”

Tickets to Help A Mate’s Sip, Graze and Give event are available from 123Tix at www.123tix.com.au/events/54393/sip-graze-and-give?step=1-select.

Individuals and businesses who might like to donate prizes or provide sponsorship for the fundraiser can contact Abby Ryan by email at helpamatedubbo@gmail.com.