The Lower Clarence Charity Masked Ball committee are putting a call to book your tickets now at the Yamba Golf and Country Club. The cut off date for this year’s ball, which will be held on the 8th of August, is the 31st of July. Tickets are $90 and include a delicious range of canapés, two-course dinner with wine and entertainment by local band Flipside featuring Grace Hickey. The Lower Clarence Charity Masked Ball committee Chair Person Lorraine Breust, said that following on from the successful Lower Clarence Relay For Life event held in March this year, the Lower Clarence Charity Masked Ball Committee has decided to dedicate the profits from this year’s annual Charity Masked Ball to specifically support the people affected by cancer who live in the Lower Clarence area. “The committee thought long and hard about where they could specifically focus this year’s Lower Clarence Charity Masked Ball fundraising efforts. After much detailed research and feedback from members of the Lower Clarence community, the committee decided to focus on all funds raised towards refurbishment of the family waiting room of the Palliative Care Room at Maclean District Hospital and to provide funding to Cancer Council NSW for their Transport to Treatment service which enables eligible people affected by cancer in the Lower Clarence to travel to health services and specialist appointments in Grafton, Lismore, Coffs Harbour and Brisbane”. Gayle Doe, CNS Project Manager at the Maclean District Hospital, explained what a difference a refurbishment of the Palliative Care Room would make to cancer patients in the Lower Clarence. “It’s currently very drab with old furniture and no window coverings. I think it is important that the family can relax and be comfortable in a pleasant room and escape for a small period of time from the emotional rollercoaster of feelings. They can make a cup of tea, talk to each other, stay overnight if need be and be there as needed”. Committee volunteers will do the refurbishment later in the year. The second project is to provide some funding toward a Transport to Treatment Service for people affected by cancer who live in the Lower Clarence area. Currently there is a lack of accessible, affordable and patient focused transport to health services for people affected by cancer within the Clarence Valley region. Rhian Paton-Kelly – Regional Manager at Cancer Council NSW explains, “people affected by cancer in the Lower Clarence are often required to travel to Coffs Harbour, Lismore, the Gold Coast and Brisbane for treatment and specialist appointments. These patients often require daily attendance over many days, weeks and sometimes months. People undergoing treatment for cancer are often too unwell to drive themselves.