WAUCHOPE District Memorial Hospital's Palliative Care Unit is set to benefit from the generosity of highly sought-after international speaker Michael Crossland.
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The 30-year-old inspirational speaker, who has presented to more than 250,000 people in the past 12 months, has endured a lifetime of illness and adversity. He told his story at a fundraiser in Port Macquarie last week, and organisers anticipate ticket sales will generate about $2000 for Wauchope Hospital's Palliative Care Unit.
Leonie McHugh, who organised the event after hearing Mr Crossland speak at a Rotary conference in Coffs Harbour earlier this year, said the fundraiser had been an outstanding success.
"We had a full house and everyone was commenting afterwards about Michael's speech and his generosity," Mrs McHugh said.
"We still have a few dollars to count, but I think we will raise very close to $2000 for the Palliative Care Unit, which is fantastic."
The evening was hosted by the Rotary Club of Port Macquarie. Mr Crossland, who also took the time to speak with Year 12 students at Wauchope and Camden Haven high schools while in the Hastings, was diagnosed with a life-threatening cancer before his first birthday, had a heart attack at 12 and continues to face incredible health challenges.
Despite the health setbacks, he earned a baseball scholarship in the United States, went on to become the youngest national sales development manager for one of the world's largest companies, and then went about rebuilding an orphanage in earthquake-devastated Haiti.
Following his presentation at Panthers Port Macquarie, Mr Crossland visited the new Palliative Care Unit at the rear of Wauchope Hospital last week.
Nurse Manager Yvonne Carmichael said Mr Crossland spent 45 minutes at the Unit, talking with patients, staff and nursing students from the University of Western Sydney.
"He was very impressed with the facility and vocal in his praise of the community's fundraising efforts," Mrs Carmichael said.
"In the short time he had in the Hastings, he said he had a sense of the strong support this community has for its hospital."
Mrs Carmichael said she wanted to thank Mrs McHugh for organising the event, Rotary for hosting it, and Mr Crossland for donating 100 per cent of the evening's proceeds to the Palliative Care Unit.
"He is such as personable young man who, although faces adversity, does it with a degree of cheerfulness and courage. He really is an inspiration to anyone who has met him," she said.
