A FAMILY touched by cancer has glammed up their Bobcats to help raise money for research by the Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation, and to make a statement on building sites across Bendigo.
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The family owns the Delecca's machinery hire company (formerly known as Bobcat of Bendigo) and is donating a portion of every sale to Peter Mac for 12 months.
Jason Delecca came up with the idea after seeing first-hand the work the cancer research centre did for his wife Courtney.
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She was diagnosed with ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer in 2017 and told she would likely not see her daughter's second birthday.
Peter Mac has been there to help, including offering her a place in an international trial of new drug Lorlatinib.
Peter Mac has found the drug improves patients' quality of life compared to other treatments and extends life expectancy.
It used a recent international medical conference to present results from the trial of almost 300 patients with ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer - a type most commonly seen in the young and who have never or only ever lightly smoked.
Jason said it was just one of the projects Peter Mac had used to try and find better treatments and cures for cancer.
Courtney recently celebrated their daughter's fifth birthday.
"She is doing really well," Jason said.
Delecca's general manager Leigh said her daughter-in-law's journey had made cancer fundraising a very emotional cause for the whole family.
"But that's the same for a lot of people in the same situation," she said.
"There's lots of people that cancer hits - and different sorts of cancers too. Without the research we don't have the opportunities, especially for young people."
Courtney last year raised roughly $13,000 for cancer research and would have kept going if not for the worldwide outbreak of coronavirus.
Jason said the idea to donate a portion of sales from purple machinery was a way of raising money without jeopardising anyone's health during the pandemic.
To kick-start the new fundraising push, Delecca's marketing manager David Lombard worked with graphic designer SignsByChoice, which donated its services to decorate the machines.
Company Digga is also contributing with regular donations, helping push the tally after two weeks of fundraising to $1000 and counting.
To find out more about Peter Mac's research visit its website at www.foundation.petermac.org
To hire Delecca's purple Bobcats call 5430 3900 or visit www.deleccas.com.au