$150,000 windfall for cancer and wellness centre

By Rohan Aldous

Apr 10, 2022

Thumbs up for dinner: Kagome chief executive officer Jason Fritsch gives his assessment of the meal provided by the celebrity chef team of Luke Croston, George Calombaris, Ryan Stevenson, Cass Austin and Glenn Austin. Photo by Steve Huntley

Kagome boss Jason Fritsch moved the goalposts on several occasions when he decided to take on the role as chief organiser of Friday evening’s Echuca Regional Health’s Cancer and Wellness Centre fundraising event on the Echuca Wharf.

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The result, which even amazed him as the figures were punched into a calculator, was a $150,000 windfall for the facility.

“When we started I was quite happy with the $3000 from the Dominos pizzas that we raised,” Mr Fritsch said.

Telling his story: *Riv Herald* journalist Adair Winder was responsible for the lead-up stories that explained the involvement of the guest chefs, including Glenn Austin. Photo by Steve Huntley

“When, after I’d had dinner with Glen Austin, I thought maybe we could go for $30,000.

“He told me, ‘let’s be a little more ambitious and go for $50,000’. Even that seemed a fair bit back then.”

Kagome’s $25,000 contribution as a diamond sponsor of the event began a snowball effect, which ended with a further three platinum sponsors — Simplot, Lactalis Australia and Geoff Thompson Coolstores.

Proud partnership: Kagome chief executive officer Jason Fritsch and Echuca Regional Health’s interim chief executive officer Robyn Lindsay. Photo by Steve Huntley

“That gave us the confidence to aim even higher and when the Georgian Motor Lodge came on as a platinum sponsor, in the last month or two, we were amazed at the response of people,” Mr Fritsch said.

The Kagome chief then reached out to all of the manufacturing giant’s suppliers and, without exception, they asked him how they could help.

Volunteer support: Moama Anglican Grammar supplied all the waitresses for the evening, which attracted more than 200 guests. Photo by Steve Huntley

“That got the critical numbers and when we were so well supported by the local community, because it was $250 a ticket, the figure was well in excess of where we started,” he said.

Mr Fritsch said the night needed to provide good wine, entertainment and food, and it did just that, the more than 200-strong guest list walking away more than satisfied.

“It’s the generous support of the sponsors, the manufacturing precincts and Kagome’s local suppliers that made this happen,” he said.

“By Tuesday afternoon we will have a pretty accurate number, or how much was raised.”

The Riv will feature more from the evening, along with a complete list of sponsors and supporters, in Wednesday’s edition.