21 Mar 2018 Vince and Anne Garreffa and the Mondo Community Warriors raised a total of $452,000 and still growing, at this year’s Lifeline WA Brunch, surpassing the three million dollar mark raised since its inception in 1996. The Aspinall Family Brunch brought together hundreds of people to raise money for Lifeline WA through Mondo Community Warriors who also raise money for WA Hospitality Youth and other smaller charities often missed by Western Australian donors. Vince Garreffa, who struggled with mental health in his younger years, and who has lost a very good friend to suicide, says that running the event and raising money for suicide prevention is very important to him. “There’s nothing better than food, hospitality and generosity,” said Mr Garreffa. “We raised $4000 at our first event in 1996, enough to train one telephone crisis support volunteer, so it’s just amazing that we are now able to raise $452,000 in one day for such an important cause.” Lifeline WA Chief Executive Officer Lorna MacGregor says the Lifeline WA Brunch is an inspiring example of how community can rally together to support an important cause. “The sense of community present at the annual brunch is comparable to none,” she said. “Vince and Anne Garreffa and the Mondo Community Warriors, whose patron is Graham Mabury, have made such a huge impact on Lifeline WA and have helped train many Telephone Crisis Support Volunteers who support Western Australians in crisis every day of the year. Guest speakers at the event included Australian cricketer Brad Hogg who talked about his cricketing career and his struggles with mental health, and Perth College student Sophia, winner of the district final of Rotary’s Four Way Speaking Competition, who shared her friend’s brave story of survival. If you are in crisis, call Lifeline on 13 11 14, available 24/7. For more information about Lifeline WA visit lifelinewa.org.au. Back To News Stories