For the second consecutive year, the Fucile family has opened its doors and hosted a house concert to raise much-needed funds for Busselton Hospice Care Inc.
Nick and Kerry Fucile hosted the four-hour House Concert Fundraiser on Saturday, February 22, with local bands performing live and raffles for family, friends and neighbours.
The pair said they had been overwhelmed by the generosity, as they handed over a cheque for $2,600 to Busselton Hospice Care Inc chief executive officer Rosie Brown.
Having recently retired, Nick and Kerry Fucile said they were looking for a way to give back to the community when they decided a House Concert was the best way to do so.
In the last two years, the pair have managed to raise more than $5,000 for the not-for-profit, assisted by the support of musicians Old Mates, Phat Chance and Marisa Spina and local sponsors.
"We knew we wanted to raise money for a local charity and we thought Busselton Hospice was a really worthy cause," Nick said.
"Everyone in the community knows someone that has benefited from the Busselton Hospice and they struggle to collect money.
"When we mention the Hospice, everyone is really generous. We had no problems selling raffle tickets and getting sponsors on board."
Kerry said it felt good to give back to the community and contribute to a worthy cause.
The funds are crucial for the not-for-profit organisation, which has been providing bereavement support to those in Busselton Health Campus' Hospice Unit for more than two decades.
In that time, the organisation has trained more than 400 volunteers to offer complementary therapy and bereavement support services for both patients and carers using only funds raised and donations made by the community.
Busselton Hospice Care Inc chief executive officer Rosie Brown said it was moving to see the community get behind the organisation.
"It really validates our work," she said.
"It makes us feel that we are valued and needed and that what we do is appreciated and it is tremendously heartwarming.
"These funds are essential. We don't receive any kind of grant or funding from any body at all, so we rely 100 per cent on community donations and fundraising.
"We are always looking for financial support from the community and, in turn, our services are completely free of charge, with no limits on the amount of times that people can utilise our services.
"I think the community groups feel that they are contributing something important and we can only reinforce that that is exactly what they are doing. It's enormously appreciated and not just by us, but by the people who use the service.
"Those that use the service would say that had it not been for this support at a critical time in their life, they don't like to think about what the future may have been like for them.
"What we're able to deliver together, as a community, is quite profound.
"It's only community that is able to deliver this kind of care and it's amazing to be part of a community that is willing to do it."
The Fucile family thanked sponsors Cellarbrations, Hay Shed Hill Wines, Cape Cellars, Dan Murphy's, Lachlan Jennings Photography, The Good Egg Cafe and Lucy from Lush Frames Picture Framing in Vasse.
To organise a fundraiser for Busselton Hospice Inc, email admin@busseltonhospicecareinc.org.au or call 9751 1642.