Williamstown women raise funds for Asia-Pacific medical services

Two Williamstown women are raising funds for reconstructive medical services in countries across the Asia-Pacific region.

Anne Rossi and fellow fundraiser Rose Marshall met only last month but soon discovered their shared interest in Interplast, a not-for-profit organisation specialising in reconstructive medical services for patients such as burns victims or people with a cleft lip and palate.

“The main thing for me is the inequality that exists between countries and the fact that we tend to take a lot of the medical treatment we have in Australia for granted, yet we have neighbours in the Asia-Pacific who have absolutely no access to the type of medical care we get,” Ms Rossi said.

Ms Marshall’s father-in-law, Professor Don Marshall, is a founding patron of the organisation.

Ms Rossi and Ms Marshall will hold a fundraising barbecue at the Royal Yacht Club of Victoria in Williamstown at 7pm on March 13.

All proceeds will go directly to Interplast.

Ms Rossi is also preparing for the Inca Trail Challenge in July. She will trek at high altitudes to Machu Picchu in Peru with fellow Interplast ambassador Turia Pitt, who was severely burned in a bushfire during an ultra-marathon race in 2011.

Ms Rossi has paid for the trip and is raising money for Interplast for the next 12 months.

Tickets for the barbecue are $25 for adults or $60 for a family.

For more information, visit www.trybooking.com/GXKM