A group of Dunsborough friends are holding a flea market and live music event at Clancy’s Fish Pub to raise money for their friend who has been diagnosed with cancer.
In July, Dunsborough photographer and stylist Rebecca Williams was holidaying in Exmouth with her family when she experienced pain in her stomach.
After being admitted into hospital tests revealed she had primary bowel cancer which had spread to her liver, lung and lymph.
In order to receive treatment, Ms Williams is now staying in Perth with her daughter and partner so she can receive ongoing care.
Her friends Temily Herring, Rae Threnoworth and Amy Sansom have organised a market and live music event at Clancy’s on Saturday, September 22 to raise much needed funds for the family.
From 12pm to 4pm, the Sugarloaf Flea Market will take over the lawn at Clancy’s with 20 market stalls, live music, live art, raffle prizes and a screening of the AFL finals match.
Later in the evening, a ticketed event will be held in the Red Room from 8pm to 11pm with performances from Jay Le Kat, Valentine, Little Lord St Band, Newtowns feat Kiki and DJ Flotation with live auctions and door prizes.
Ms Herring said they wanted to help ease the family’s financial burden while she went through treatment in Perth, and to hold a fundraising event which would bring the community together.
“Being a small town Bec knows lots of people, so the idea was to bring everyone together and show support by raising funds,” she said.
The group of friends used to run an art studio in Dunsborough called Sugarloaf Studio and held events over the last couple of years known as the Sugarloaf Flea.
The event brought together creatives in the region and gave them a space to sell their wares.
“There was always a really good turnout, although our studio has now closed, we thought it would be a good way to bring people together,” she said.
“Everyone knows about the Sugarloaf Flea, so we put an offer out to previous stallholders, artists, creatives and musicians who will be there throughout the day.
“All the cost of the market stalls are going to Bec and some people have offered to give a percentage of their sales too.”
Ms Herring said the evening event would see everyone having a good time with a huge lineup of musicians and a live auction.
She said lots of people had donated items to the fundraiser, mostly because Bec had previously worked with them.
“We are just rounding up different donations which has been huge, we’ve had so many people give, even a custom-designed vintage surfboard,” she said.
Ms Threnoworth said the community support had been overwhelming and the event would largely celebrate their friend.
“Bec is really excited, she is super bubbly and pumped and will be there on the day with her whole family,” she said.
“We just want to take the financial pressure off them as much as we can, so they can just take care of each other, it is just one thing we can do to help them.”
Ms Sansom said Clancy’s would donate $1 from every chip cone sold on the day and they would also have late night eats available throughout the evening event.
“We will have live music from 12pm right through until we close,” she said.
Tickets to the evening event, All the love fundraiser for Rebecca Williams, are available online at clancysfishpub.com.au/event/all-the-love-a-fundraiser-for-rebecca-williams/.
A GoFundMe page has also been created, if you would like to make a donation please visit gofundme.com/rebecca-williams-sugarshack.