When Bruce Crane opened up the pages of last week’s Examiner, an article immediately caught his eye and he knew that the Shed Men of Canning Vale needed to get involved.
That article Seven-year-old rides for other children with cancer (Examiner, September 29), detailing the fundraising efforts of seven-year-old Thornlie dynamo Sage Brougham, who has set the goal of riding 50 kilometres to raise money as part of the Great Cycle Challenge.
The Challenge aims to fund life-saving research to develop safe and effective cures for childhood cancers and at the time, Sage had raised $948.
Thanks to the Shed Men, that already-impressive figure has skyrocketed, with a donation of $2587.50 landing in Sage’s fundraising account.
Mr Crane said he was so impressed with Sage’s efforts, he was compelled to rally the support of the Shed Men.
“To overhear mum and dad talking about this bike ride, and for a seven-year-old to stand up say ‘I want to do it for kids’, it’s just incredible,” he said.
“It’s a huge undertaking for a child so young and I immediately though that we could help.
“We’ve a mechanical club, we take bikes, mowers and edgers, anything mechanical we find in a verge collection, we do it up and sell it then donate the money to charity.
“We’re incredibly proud of that and we’re incredibly proud to support Sage.
“She’s a little champion as far as we’re concerned.”
The incredibly generous donation has seen Sage’s ranking in the Great Cycle Challenge rise to third in WA and 24th in Australia.
Sage’s mum Faye said couldn’t thank the Shed Men enough.
“It’s such a generous donation, I was really shocked when I saw the figure,” she said.
“I really need to thank the Shed Men for helping Sage fundraise for children with cancer, this level of support is unbelievable.
“For a seven-year-old to be third in the State and in the top thirty nationally, I certainly didn’t anticipate that when Sage started this journey.
“Sage is thrilled and we’re thinking of a special way to thank the Shed Men.”
