Cathy Cruse on a mission to raise funds for charity

With the intoxicating aromas of spices and coconut blended into authentic Sri Lankan flavours you could be excused for thinking you are in sunny Sri Lanka when you are dining at Upali’s in Blackburn Road.

Cathy Cruse, Manager of Upali’s Restaurant in Glen Waverley is swapping her wonderful culinary hub for the hot and rocky Grand Canyon for the sake of humanity. Cathy’s challenging herself in a feat of endurance with competitors worldwide over seven days walking 273 km self supported from 23rd September to raise awareness and funds for a worthy cause.

Under tough conditions from zero to 40 degrees, sacrificing creature comforts, no food just water for 7 days which she has to carry, sharing a tent to sleep with many others, Cathy is dedicating this challenge to raise funds for The Cyril Dharmwardana Foundation.

Australian based non profit organisation CDF (Cyril Dharmawardene Foundation) Patient Transport Charity provides the only free of charge transport service to underprivileged seriously ill patients ( ie cancer, chronic kidney disease) in rural Sri Lanka enabling timely treatment to those who cannot travel due to weakness and poverty. This life saving service provides access to treatment in major hospitals, transported in well equipped hygienic ambulances sent from Australia.

This is not the first time Cathy has put her resilience to the test in her journey of philanthropy, she has a string of charity challenges behind her including her stint in the Gobi desert for Sri Lankan Test Cricketer Roshan Mahanama’s fundraiser for a school in war-torn North Sri Lanka.and supports the Foundation of Goodness, a charity organisation assisting rural communities with opportunities and sustainability in Sri Lanka since the Tsunami.

Join hands to support Cathy with her humanitarian effort, lets show our appreciation and encourage her to soldier on to the finish line by sponsoring her on her fundraiser page. All donations are tax deductible. There are collection tills at Upali’s Restaurant in Blackburn Rd, Glen Waverley as well for donations.

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