Angels walk among us

Richmond Football Club CEO Brendon Gale with Georgia, David, Hamish, Lisa and Thomas Kervin. 133205_31 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS.

By BEN CAMERON

A BAND of ambulance paramedics from Pakenham, Beaconsfield, Berwick and Narre Warren branches will join forces for Relay For Life next month … with a little bit of help from the Richmond Football Club.
Held at Berwick’s Akoonah Park on 13 and 14 March, the AV (Ambulance Victoria) Angels will tackle the 24-hour walk looking to better their efforts of last year.
The team raised about $6000 last year, and are off to a good start in 2015 so far with Richmond players signing a Dreamtime guernsey for the Angels to raffle off.
The Tigers presented Mr Kervin with the jumper during their training session in Pakenham last Friday.
He said cancer had touched most of the Angels.
“Unfortunately, there are very few people who could say that they have not had cancer touch their lives at some point, whether it be themselves, a family member, a friend or colleague,” he said.
“As ambulance paramedics we see first-hand the impact that cancer can have on families, as we are often called for assistance into their homes.
“Having personally been in the health care profession for greater than 20 years, I have seen amazing advances in cancer treatments that research has provided.”
He said the Angels had been busy fund-raising through sausage sizzles and shaking tins.
Mr Kervin first became inspired after visiting the Casey-Cardinia Relay for Life event in 2013, and was moved by the candlelight vigil and the sense of community.
He said he was expecting up to 80 walkers to register with the Angels.