Lifeskills Plus is delighted with community response to its Chain of Coins fundraiser, despite falling short of its goal. 

Organisers had challenged the community to bring their small change to the Mudgee Showground on Saturday morning and help create a chain of coins equivalent to the 2050 metre distance from the current Lifeskills premises in Perry Street to the new centre in Oporto Road. 

Wilpinjong workers kicked off the challenge, sending more than $2000 in coins they had collected. 

Brothers 3, Makirum, Shardyn and Tayzin Fahey, helped to lay down coins from donation tins around the town, as well as donations brought by members of the public on Saturday. 

By the end of the event on Saturday afternoon, 540 metres of coins had donated, equivalent to the distance from Perry Street to the corner of Douro and Denison Street.

Lifeskills Plus Business & Community Liaison Officer Bob Lejeune said the community response to the appeal was “awesome”, ranging from five-year-olds who brought their money boxes to elderly women who emptied the change from their handbags. 

“People have been coming with little jars of change,” he said. 

Lifeskills Plus needs to raise $600,000 to finish the second half of the South Mudgee centre, which will include facilities for training, therapy and respite care, as well as staff and administration areas. 

Mr Lejeune said Lifeskills Plus was grateful for the support of Peabody Wilpinjong which has donated $25,000 to the appeal, in addition to the employees’ donation.  

“This centre is not just important for Mudgee, but also for all the surrounding areas as well,” he said. 

“People with disabilities deserve to have a purpose-centre, instead of an old, improvised facility.” 

Lifeskills Plus support worker Kathy Patrick, who came up with the Chain of Coins idea, said the event had helped to make people aware of Lifeskills Plus, as well as raising money for the new centre. 

“The support from the community has been brilliant,” she said.