PERSONAL trainer Amy Holmes is reaching out to the Bendigo community to help raise funds for 15-year-old Millie Beaton.
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Millie is a top-level swimmer who has been diagnosed with Ewing's Sarcoma – a rare form of bone cancer.
Millie and her mother, Emma, are clients at Shape Fitness, where Ms Holmes is the trainer and director.
"Emma came to me this year wanting to improve her fitness and brought Millie along," Ms Holmes said.
"Millie was looking to improve her cardio and improve the strength in her shoulders."
But after a training with Ms Holmes, Millie was still having problems with her cardio.
After being referred to a doctor, an ultrasound revealed a tumour in her rib cage. The tumour was eventually diagnosed as Ewing's Sarcoma.
Ms Holmes said because she knew the family personally, she wanted to do something to help.
"For me, this wasn't just a cancer fundraiser," Ms Holmes said.
"There are a lot of fundraisers out there raising funds for so many wonderful causes but having seen this person regularly face to face, knowing her name and what she wanted for the future, it made it far more personal."
Ms Holmes will host a fundraising evening at the Rifle Brigade on July 25.
The cocktail evening will include a goods and services auction and live entertainment from Seb & Sarah.
She is an amazing kid. She doesn't want people to feel sorry for her.
- Amy Holmes
"We are calling it 'Cocktails, mocktails and more for Millie'. She said she is looking forward to having social event," Ms Holmes said.
"I was planning a social function with Shape and all of this happened, so I thought I could have an event to raise funds.
"From talking to clients, I thought that I should open it to the whole community."
Millie has requested that money raised from the fundraising is split between her family and the Children's Cancer Centre at the Royal Children's Hospital.
"(Millie) is an amazing kid. She doesn't want people to feel sorry for her," Ms Holmes said.
"The Children's Cancer Centre has been so fantastic to her that she wants something to go to them so she can help other families."
Cocktails, Mocktails and more for Millie is on at the Rifle Brigade Hotel on July 25. Tickets are $65. Contact Amy Holmes at Shape Fitness for more details.
