Age Matters raises $35,000 for disadvantaged older people at Race Against Homelessness charity event

More than 300 people gathered at Kembla Grange Racecourse last Saturday to raise funds for disadvantaged older people at Age Matters’s inaugural Race Against Homelessness race day.

The event raised $35,000 that will go directly to Age Matters’s efforts fighting homelessness in the Illawarra.

Special guests included Lord Mayor of Wollongong, Councillor Gordon Bradbery, Councillor Tania Brown, Member for Whitlam, Stephen Jones MP, IRT Group Chair Mike Halloran and IRT Group Directors Peter Fitzgerald and Anita Mulrooney.

Age Matters Manager Toby Dawson said it was a tremendous turnout and fundraising effort by the local community.

“It’s humbling to see so many people show up and dig deep to help our disadvantaged older neighbours and friends facing the threat of homelessness,” Mr Dawson said.

“On any given night there are almost 20,000 older people experiencing homelessness in Australia – and 64% of these people will die within five years of becoming homeless.

“That’s why every dollar raised will go directly to Age Matters programs helping disadvantaged older people who are facing the very real threat of ending up without safe and secure housing.”

In 2017/18, Age Matters activities directly impacted the lives of 6,813 people, including helping 90 people to find appropriate housing through its Assistance with Care and Housing (ACH) Program.

The ACH Program matches disadvantaged older people with age-friendly, affordable housing, including housing at below-market rent in IRT retirement villages.

“We’d like to thank everyone who made the day such a success including our generous guests, organisers, our Gold sponsors: Avcon Projects, Better Floors + Blinds, MMJ Real Estate, Peoplecare Health Cover, StewartBrown Chartered Accountants, Virtual IT Group and Warren Saunders Insurance Brokers, Silver Sponsors: Cleanaway, Illawarra Toyota, KPMG and Novigi., as well as many other supporting businesses,” Mr Dawson said.

To help contribute to the fight against homelessness visit https://www.irt.org.au/about/age-matters/.

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