Monster Raffle A Monstrous Success

By Sarah Healey on July 3, 2013 in News

On a chilly Friday night in May the generally docile watering hole that is the Charing Cross Hotel was bursting at the seams with generous punters from near and far, all there to support Mal Ward’s ‘Forever Johnno’ Monster Raffle and Charity Auction.

The Monster Raffle is now in its 13th year and this one certainly didn’t fail to impress. An astounding 250 people, including local celebrities such as Bondi Vet star Dr Chris Brown, gathered together and dug deep to raise $10,000 for the Liver Transplant Unit (Clancy Ward) at Westmead Children’s Hospital, where Mal’s son Johnno received much of his care before passing away in 2008.

“It makes me so proud to put the Forever Johnno banner up each year and a real personal highlight for me was when I saw eight nurses from Westmead turn up on the night, four from Johnno’s early days in hospital,” Mal said.

“The Monster Raffle is an institution now – a must-do on the Eastern Suburbs calendar. It’s become such a popular event because it’s a feel-good night. Great music, food, prizes and giveaways, and all for such a worthy cause,” he added.

Mal is eternally grateful to all those who help him make the night such a success.

“It always falls into place, but it can’t happen without the people and support,” he said.

A special shout-out goes to Mal’s mate Mark Minehan, owner of the Royal Standard Hotel in Melbourne, who raised a further $6,300 at the Monster Raffle’s Melbourne sister event.