Builder, Paul Gray, and chairman and founder of The Otis Foundation, Andrew Barling, share ideas for a proposed new breast cancer retreat honouring their late wives. Photo: Max Lesser
Kylie Kitchen
A search is on for a generous landowner to help make a Macedon Ranges or Mt
Alexander breast cancer retreat a reality.
Builder, Paul Gray, is offering to
donate his time and skills to construct the retreat, in memory of his late wife,
Kerri.
Paul was left a widower to the disease in 2011 following his wife's
four-year battle.
Kerri and the family shared their precious last memories
holidaying together on a rural getaway.
"It gave us family time (with
children, Emily, now 13, and Darcy, now 10)," Paul said.
"It was more a
normality of getting back to enjoying family time without the impact of what
cancer can bring to your family, it gives you a holiday.
"Family was
everything to Kerri ... I know she was also doing it for us, to give us
normality as well."
Paul recalls those times so fondly that he decided to
help open another retreat with The Otis Foundation, a charity providing free,
short-term retreats for people living with breast cancer.
"To have lived and
fought this disease with Kerri, our family knows how much a small getaway can
help to forget the day-to-day stresses of this terrible disease," Paul
said.
"So for us to be in a situation to be able to give that feeling to
other families and friends with breast cancer is a small thing, after such a big
loss.
"For me personally to be able to build this home and have it named
after Kerri is very rewarding and a labour of love."
Paul and Kerri's
discussions about helping The Otis Foundation have motivated him to pursue the
project.
"I just felt that I had to follow it through, being one of her
wishes, and something that I can do as a legacy to Kerri," Paul said.
"It's
great to know Otis (members) are completely behind it and excited. It's been something
they took on with open arms."
Paul, owner of Paul Gray Builders, said he will
be very 'hands on' in the project.
"My main aim is to be able to do it
myself, it's something that I've got to be able to build personally," he
said.
Otis chairman and founder, Andrew Barling, is working with Paul to help
bring the project to fruition.
During project discussions, Andrew and Paul
discovered the coincidence that both their wives had passed away from breast
cancer on the same day, 11 years apart.
The Otis Foundation was inspired by
Judy Burley who was diagnosed with breast cancer at 29 years old. Judy had a
vision to deliver the peace, nurturing and comfort she found in nature, to
others facing a similar challenge.
Today, Judy's dream has become a network
of 14 Otis retreats located in Victoria, South Australia and New South
Wales.
"Ever since Otis began, we have relied and thrived on the generosity
of the central Victorian communities and we continue to be very thankful to
them," Andrew said.
"From Judy's original vision, I understand the
significance of the gift that Paul and Kerri have offered to Otis and the
ongoing contribution it will make to the lives of those living with breast
cancer.
"Now we're calling for another generous individual to contribute the
land, to help Paul and I see this exciting project to fruition."
The Otis
Foundation is calling for a significant donation of a picturesque piece of
countryside, on which to build the new retreat.
To find out more or make an
offer to Otis, contact Charmaine Vanderbeek at charmaine@otisfoundation.org.au
or on 5444 1185.
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