Suzanne Hammond-Warne is the driving force behind what promises to be an amazing few weeks of fundraising, entertainment and good community fun.

She started the Shoalhaven Goes Gold charity and is planning a series of community events to raise money for Nowra-based Cancer Care Centre and Milton Cancer Centre.

Another event will raise funds for Neuroblastoma Cancer.

The group has a massive family fun day booked in for Saturday, August 28 at Harry Sawkins Park, which will be followed by a fashion parade and gala ball.

They are also putting together a calendar and an El Horses Goes Gold event is also booked in.

Suzanne, a former local principal and primary school teacher, wanted to give something back to the community like she does with the Shoalhaven Community Choir.

She said everyone had lost or known someone because of cancer.

Suzanne has lost family members and a 12-year-old student to cancer.

"Your life is full of these people," she said.

"The Cancer Care Centre was also wonderful to my mother-in-law Cath who had melanoma ."

Suzanne, once she decided to do the fundraising, asked the Shoalhaven Hospital for a wish list and they came back with flat-screen televisions for the cancer patients to watch.

She hopes to get two flat screens for the Nowra based facility and one for the Milton Cancer Care centre

Suzanne has a committee to help her but she is definitely leading the charge and it [Shoalhaven Goes Gold] is a registered charity.

Here is a rundown of their events

Shoalhaven Goes Gold will stage an official launch on Saturday, August 28 at Harry Sawkins Park and a massive of activities are planned from 10am

Hopefully, if COVID-19 does not interfere, the Doonooch dancers will perform and Shoalhaven City Mayor, Councillor Amanda Findley will formally open the event.

People will be able to write messages of support to loved ones and thank-you notes to the cancer care centre all-day

There will also be a concert in the park featuring musical performances, dance groups and Shoalhaven Concert Band.

Circus 35° South will be coming up from the Ulladulla/Milton area to perform and do workshops.

There will be various food stalls also operating on the day and people can just turn up but COVID-19 health guidelines will be followed.

If worst comes to worst the event will be pushed back to September.

There will also be a Best Dressed Dog Competition with two categories- in theme - gold/yellow or not in theme in any outfit.

To start a golden month of wonderful fundraisers the El Horses Goes Gold in memory of Georgia, a 12-year-old girl, will be staged on September 4 with the money raised at this event going to Childhood Neuroblastoma Cancer

This event will be held at E Horses in Nowra - at the former Bishop's shop

Georgia is the daughter of one of Suzanne's friends who passed at the age of 12-years from Neuroblastoma Cancer.

The entertainment is yet to be decided but George Bishop will organise a fabulous line-up

Then there is the fashion parade on September 16 run by Black Pepper at the Worrigee Sports Club.

Shoalhaven Goes Gold Ambassador, Sue Gregan, will be sharing her journey, battles and victories with cancer at the fashion parade.

Some cancer care centre nurses will also speak at the event.

Paul Fraser is the fashion parade's master of ceremonies and Catie Halliday will be singing and both are vastly talented individuals.

The Shoalhaven Goes Gold Gala Dinner on Saturday, September 25 at the Nowra Golf Club is the final event of a month of fundraising activities.

The star-studded evening will include a magnificent three-course dinner, with complimentary champagne on arrival.

Local entertainers Anthony and Leanne Girdlestone and Serenity Pavitt will perform and there will be raffles and a silent auction.

Dress code is formal with a touch of gold encouraged but not essential.

There is a discounted ticket price for the dinner if you also attend the fashion parade.

A 2022 calendar is one of the fundraising venues the group is setting up.

Richard Miller has taken the photos and Councillor Nina Digiglio is also helping out.

The calendar features the people helping with the activities, including ambassador Sue Gregan and the event's sponsors, cancer survivors, performers and cancer care nurses.

We will let you know when it goes on sale.

The fundraising ventures were meant to happen last year but COVID-19 had other ideas.

People who want to come and help are more than welcome.

People can make contact via the group's two Facebook pages - Shoalhaven Goes Gold and Shoalhaven Goes Gold Activities

Suzanne is hopeful local Rotary Clubs will join the activities and help set things up for the Harry Sawkins events

"I also need people to buy tickets for the gala dinner and fashion parade," she said

Tickets sales are slow at the moment which Suzanne puts down to COVID uncertainty.

As mentioned, for more information go to Shoalhaven Goes Gold and Shoalhaven Goes Gold Activities on Facebook