Cupcakes for cancer research

28 May 2009

All up employee fundraising efforts have raised almost $3500 for the Charity with every dollar matched by the Company through the Employees in the Community Team Rio Tinto initiative.

Dampier Salt in Port Hedland, and Iron Ore’s Human Resources, Environment and Sales and Marketing teams all chose to raise funds for the Cancer Council by hosting a morning tea, through the Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea initiative. The annual event which is held on 28 May or anytime during May/June is one of the Cancer Council’s leading fundraising events. Since it was established in 1994 the event has helped to raise over $60 million towards research, prevention, education and support.

A team who took a different fundraising tact for the Cancer Council, albeit with the same sweet results, was the iron ore Approvals and Risk Management team. Rather than host a one-off event the team prolonged their gastronomic activities by hosting a full scale competition, with weekly and overall prizes, where ten teams of four people participated in a weekly themed bake off. Guest judges were recruited and followed stringent judging criteria each week to judge the array of slices and biscuits; decorative cupcakes, savoury items and cakes. In total the team raised over $1200, with all participants (either bakers or buyers) required to donate $5 each week.