Quest raises $90,000 for Cancer Council

Entrants in the 2010 Queen of the Oyster festival have surpassed their fundraising goal of $50,000 and donated a record $90,000 to the Cancer Council Pink Ribbon Appeal.

Miss Aimee Hanslow of Woy Woy was crowned Queen of the Festival, raising just over $9000 and Miss Charity Queen was won by Scarlett Napier who raised $30,000.

Ms Hanslow said she was inspired to get involved in the program to be part of something that makes a difference.

"Working as a hairdresser I am surrounded by women on a daily basis and when I learnt that it is one in nine women who are diagnosed with breast cancer by the age of 85, I realised it was at least one of my clients every day that would be affected," she said.

Ms Hanslow conducted fundraising events including a black tie masquerade ball where she raised $5000, a thrift sale and sausage sizzle, a Melbourne Cup lunch, a Tupperware party, meat raffles and $15 haircuts with all proceeds going to the Cancer Council Pink Ribbon Appeal.

"Being part of the Oyster Festival gave me the opportunity to use my resources in a female dominated industry to do something within our local community," said Ms Hanslow.

"The staggering amount raised by all seven entrants was $90,000 for Cancer Council NSW for breast cancer research," said festival coordinator Ms Debra Wales.

The Queens won five nights on the Gold Coast for two plus airfares as well as a $500 gift voucher.

The Peninsula Chamber of Commerce presented each entrant at the ball with a silver bracelet plus a lunch for two on a cruise boat in appreciation of their hard work fundraising these past months.

The Mother of the Pearl was won by Ms Vicki White of Umina Beach who received a two night package at a Hunter Valley resort, a day of golf and a pamper package.

Kaitlin Watts 17 Nov 2010 Interviewee: Aimee Hanslow