Fundraiser of the Month 
Inspired by Gabi Hollows' presentation at the 2008 Rotary Director's briefing weekend in Sydney, David Cooke and wife Judy set about planning their support for The Fred Hollows Foundation's Indigenous Australia program.
The Foundation reaches 55 remote communities through its Indigenous Australia program, with a commitment to close the gap in the life expectancy between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
The Indigenous Australia program aims to:
- Improve the life chances and choices of Indigenous Australians through improving their health
- Build the capacities of Indigenous organisations so that they are able to improve their people's health
- Foster and promote eye health systems that work for Indigenous people.
In the area of health, The Fred Hollows Foundation is working with partners to develop a preventative strategy: making available a dietary supplement that reduces the risk of anaemia; and giving parents and communities the information they need to make healthy eating choices.
In the 2009-10 financial year, David and Judy encouraged 39 clubs in their District to raise more than $20,000 for The Foundation's Childhood Anaemia Prevention Project. One of these clubs, The Rotary Club of Pascoe Vale, organised a shopping tour - doing their best to end the Global Financial Crisis!
Support of this project will be ongoing, and The Foundation would like to thank David and Judy for raising awareness and encouraging other Rotary Clubs to be involved.
> Find out more about The Foundation's Australia program.
