Following months of fundraising, charity raffles and special events, Motorcycling NSW, with the support of Kawasaki Australia, has handed over a cheque for $23,455 to Cancer Council NSW, helping to continue the fight against cancer in Australia.

With Kawasaki’s head office as the back-drop, MNSW president Christine Tickner presented Cancer Council NSW’s Helpline manager Lorna O’Brien with the cheque.

Cancer Council NSW’s Helpline is one of the main areas to receive much needed funding from the generous donation.

“I’m truly overwhelmed by the generosity of Motorcycling NSW,” said O’Brien after the ceremony.

“If it wasn’t for organizations such as them [MNSW], we wouldn’t be able to achieve our mission of defeating cancer and without that kind of involvement, cancer will continue to erode our community, so we are just so very grateful that MNSW are helping us with our mission to defeat cancer,”

Also on hand were staff from Cancer Council NSW, Motorcycling NSW and Kawasaki Australia, including Kawasaki Australia managing director Ted Mori, whom took time from his busy schedule to congratulate the other big winner on the day, Rick Toutounji and his son Jaylen.

Toutounji was the major winner of MNSW’s 2010 Charity Raffle, which was drawn at the Annual Night of Champions in November, scoring himself a brand-new Kawasaki Ninja 250 thanks to Kawasaki Australia and Kelen Kawasaki Motorcycles, Penrith.

“I’m over the moon, I haven’t won anything before. So, for a first win, it’s quite fantastic,” said Toutounji. “It’s just an incredible thing – when I first got the phone call, it was surreal. I had the lady on the phone for quite some time because I couldn’t believe it!

“She had to assure me it was actually true – in fact I had to call her back a few times to say; are you sure I’ve won?! It’s such a wonderful prize and I couldn’t be happier!”

Despite what has been a tough road financially for some this year, Kawasaki Australia and Kelen Kawasaki dug deep in support of a good cause.

“From Kawasaki’s point of view, we are very proud to be involved with Motorcycling NSW and the Cancer Council NSW,” said Kawasaki Australia’s national sales and marketing manager Robert Walker.

“I think it’s a very worthwhile effort from everyone. It’s a great result and a very happy winner of a motorcycle as well, so It’s a win all-round.”

The 2010 charity raffles also gave away four other major prizes on the night, and MNSW wishes to express its sincere appreciation to all of its 2010 charity partners, Kawasaki Australia, Kincrome, Compex Australia, Flybar Australia, MXRAD and Bud Racing and Harvey Norman Electrical Lake Haven – as a donation such as this would not have been possible without the generosity and support.