A group of former Raymond Terrace High School students are rallying to raise money for brain cancer research in memory of their friend, Craig Engel.
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Mr Engel, who lived in Raymond Terrace before moving to Guyra [near Armidale], died of brain cancer in 2016, almost 30 years after he first beat the disease.
“He was diagnosed with brain cancer when he was 17 or 18,” Bronwyn Hutchins, a school friend of Mr Engel, said.
“Everyone said his cancer was inoperable.
“Charlie Teo was the only one who would look at him.
“Craig lived ‘til he was 48. He got married, had a child. He had a happy life. Then the cancer came back.”
Dr Teo, who is an internationally renowned neurosurgeon and a pioneer in minimally invasive surgical techniques for brain cancer treatment, again operated on Mr Engel.
This time, however, the cancer claimed Mr Engel’s life.
To honour his life, and help the foundations that had helped him and are searching for a cure, Ms Hutchins and a group of friends are organising a fund-raising “Catch Up for Craig”.
Money raised from the event will be donated to Dr Charlie Teo’s Cure Brain Cancer Foundation and the Mark Hughes Foundation.
The fund-raising event will be held at the Newcastle Jockey Club races on Saturday, May 20.
Tickets cost $60 per person which includes entry, private marquee, private bar, a two course gourmet lunch and a donation to both charities.
There will be prizes and raffles throughout the day.
Ms Hutchins said the organising committee, including Craig Warden, Michelle Crowfoot, Tom Ford and Mark Hampson, hoped to fill the marquee on the day, which holds up to 500 people.
All members of the community are welcome to attend.
The committee is also seeking monetary donations, gifts and prizes for the raffle.
To buy tickets, deposit money into the event account: Hampson and Hutchins, acc no 525881701, BSB: 650 000.
Once deposited, email your name and address for tickets to rthsfundraiser@gmail.com.
For more information about the event phone Ms Hutchins on 0425 267 114.