SSAA NSW Executive Director to trek Great Wall of China for breast cancer

Diana Melham, the Executive Director at SSAA NSW, has raised almost $40,000 for breast cancer research ahead of her trip to China next month where she will be trekking the Great Wall of China. “Breast cancer affects so many people and I’ve personally witnessed close friends and family battle breast cancer so I try and help wherever I can,” said Diana.

Diana will start the trek in May but won’t be taking it easy in the lead-up. She and her brother-in-law Simon, who is joining her on the journey, have set a target of $70,000 and plan to reach the milestone before the slog starts. Her training regime has been a strict schedule of walking up and down countless hills and stairs. She estimates the Great Wall mission will take five gruelling days to complete.

Some of the significant donors to the cause so far have been SSAA National ($5000), SSAA NSW ($5000), SSAA Sydney Branch ($5000), Revesby Workers Club ($5000) and SSAA Insurance Brokers ($1000). The latest big fundraiser for the cause was a charity Try Shooting Day hosted by SSAA NSW and St Marys Indoor Shooting Centre. “The Try Shooting Day was a huge success, raising more than $14,000,” said Diana. “We ran the day as a family event and had people of all ages show up. One-hundred-and-forty-one people had turns firing a handgun and rifle throughout the day, most of who had never used firearms before.

“So many people made the day possible. Fifty enthusiastic volunteers showed up to give one-on-one instruction to the beginners. Safari Firearms generously donated a hot pink Savage Mark II .22 rifle with scope for the silent auction. SSAA NSW and St Marys Indoor Shooting Centre hosted the event, which allowed everything raised to be donated to the cause,” added Diana.

The challenging trek will allow Diana and Simon to reflect on and honour family, friends and colleagues who have had or are still battling breast cancer. They will be paying their travel and registration expenses out of their own pockets so 100 per cent of the money donated will go towards the cause. If you would like to support Diana and Simon there is still plenty of time to donate.

“It absolutely blows me away how generous and giving the shooting community is,” said Diana. “The shooting community has really come together to support the cause as well as Simon and I…This has only been possible because of countless volunteers who have donated their skills and time. The SSAA organisation at all levels and its members have been extremely supportive and I can’t thank them enough.”

All money donated will go to the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF). It organises and hosts treks across the Great Wall of China and is Australia’s leading community-funded organisation for helping to raise money for research into the prevention and cure of breast cancer. All donations will help NBCF to achieve its goal of having zero deaths from breast cancer by 2030.

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