North Queensland greyhound community raising money for sick kids

By Jordan Gerrans

North Queensland greyhound trainer John La Rosa was brought to tears when he was first told of his daughters fund-raising efforts around children with cancer.

And now, the entire dog industry in the north of the Sunshine State are getting behind Ashlyn La Rosa’s bid to raise funds.

Townsville’s Tuesday evening greyhound meeting will be key for fund-raising efforts with the Wooler kennel to donate a slice of their prize money earnings across the program to the cause.

A number of races on the card are also named in Ashlyn’s honour.

Through the Kids with Cancer Foundation’s Wigs 4 Kids project, Ashlyn La Rosa is aiming to raise $2,000 for families in need, which she is well on the way to already achieving.

The program make wigs for sick children that require one.

John La Rosa trains his kennel out of Mareeba on the Atherton Tablelands and travels to Townsville to race weekly.

“She made me cry when she first told me,” La Rosa said of his daughters efforts.

“I did not know she was doing it but when I did find out, it made me so proud of her. It is very good what she is doing.”

In her fund-raising profile, Ashlyn details her aims.

“I'm raising money to help relieve the financial burden from families that have a child being treated for a cancer diagnosis,” Ashlyn said.

“I am cutting my hair to fund raise to help sick kids throughout Australia. Not only will my lovely locks be used to make a wig, your donations to the cause that means so much to me, will allow Kids with Cancer Foundation to continue with their financial support of families that have a child suffering cancer.

“Please donate to my fund-raiser, and share with your family and friends, together we can all make a difference.”

The Townsville-based Wooler kennel – which includes mother and daughter training team Joanne and Hayley – will donate ten percent of all their earnings from dogs who finish in the top three on Tuesday night.

The Woolers have a big team of seven in across the program.

“As a family we thought it was a great concept – we have already made a donation personally – and hopefully we can add to the cause through this,” Jo said.

“We sat down and spoke about it as a family, we thought it was a great way to through some more support behind her and help her achieve her goal.

“It is a selfless act what Ashlyn is doing and we should be supporting those things.”

The Wooler and La Rosa clans have been close for many years, with Jo recalling the days they would spend together at the old Cairns track before it was closed.

That was La Rosa’s previous home track from his Mareeba base.

Ashlyn helps her father around his kennel with his small team of dogs.

“With an ounce of luck, hopefully it could be a good pay day for our team and for Ashlyn,” Jo said of her dogs on Tuesday night. 

“Hopefully everyone at the club gets on board and supports the cause because everyone is not always as fortunate out there.

“Wigs 4 Kids is a brilliant concept and what Ashlyn is doing is phenomenal.”

More details around Ashlyn's fund-raising efforts can be found here