Ray Murray is the kind of person who would do anything to help support children living with cancer.
The Geelong man has been recognised by children’s cancer charity Camp Quality for his seven years of volunteer service with the Gillard Award during National Volunteer Week.
Camp Quality events coordinator Rach Gibbeson was one of Ray’s nominators for the state award and said he had given a significant amount of time to fundraising.
“With Ray, everything is for the kids, if you ever have a conversation with him, he will tell you just that – and ‘for the kids’ is his driving motivation to do what he does and he does it all without complaint and with a smile on his face,” she said.
“It is not uncommon for Ray to drive two hours out of his way to pick up the needed equipment for a fundraiser or collect supplies for a barbecue, as well as planning team trips all out of his own pocket.”
Ray said he got involved in volunteering for Camp Quality through a friend, Graeme MacMahon.
“Graeme is the main fundraiser in the region and my mum and I always used to donate to him,” he said.
“When my mum passed away, I said I’d help him – because he was also running a business and I was retired – and it’s snowballed from there.
“Nowadays I do all the footwork to organise fundraisers for the kids, whether that’s sausage sizzles, disco bingo nights, trivia nights.”
Ray is also a long-time esCarpade participant, travelling across the country in specially decorated cars to raise money.
“We only did one about a month back that went from Albury … to Coffs Harbour, where our Victorian group raised $82,000,” he said.
“It’s a lot of work, but I enjoy it. I wanted to do one esCarpade, but now I’ve done four.”
Along with the fundraising, Ray and his fellow esCarpadians also do what they can to help out with Camp Quality camps.
Recently the group of 13 drove to Bendigo in their bash cars, put on a full luncheon and organised activities and gifts for the kids and their families.
“The parents were amazed that we did that … but I was rapt to be able to put a smile on their faces,” he said.
“Especially with these kids who are only young and starting out life to having to go through having cancer, it’s not fair.
“I’d give them the shirt off my back if it would help.
“I really enjoy what I do and now that I’m retired I have the time to do it.”
