By Alesha Capone
Manor Lakes girl Paige Smith has been recognised as the highest individual Relay for Life fundraiser in Wyndham.
Seven-year-old Paige raised more than $5064 for the Relay, which is held every year in aid of the Cancer Council.
The Wyndham Relay for Life had to be cancelled earlier this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, some people who planned on participating in the event have gone ahead and donated the funds they raised to the Cancer Council, including young Paige.
Paige was part of the wider City West Taekwondo’s Relay fundraising team, as she trains with the club in Manor Lakes.
The City West Taekwondo team, headed by the club’s admin manager Silvana de Pasquale, raised a whopping $23,287 for Relay For Life this year.
Paige said that she and her father, Shannon, organised a charity auction at a fundraising trivia night hosted by City West Taekwondo.
The items they auctioned included a signed North Melbourne Football jersey, donated by ex-player and family friend Peter Chisnall; and jerseys signed by AFL player Dustin Martin, which were donated by Mick Hargraves from BoxingFit Port Melbourne.
Mr Chisnall’s son also donated a top signed by Melbourne Storm players.
A football signed by Western Bulldogs players and a cricket bat signed by the Victorian Bushrangers were among the other auction items.
The auction raised more than $600.
Paige’s family and friends also helped out with her fundraising efforts, including her mother Joanne, who donated a portion of profits from her business My Sports Merchandise.
Paige said she felt proud to raise more than $5000 for the Wyndham Relay for Life.
