The Whitford Lions Club has raised $50,000 for mental health support through a record-breaking 102-hour sausage sizzle at Bunnings Joondalup. The event, which ran from 10am Thursday to 4pm Monday, sold more than 8200 sausages, with organisers claiming a world record.
All proceeds go to the club’s Beacon of Light initiative, which provides early intervention mental health support. The fundraiser initially aimed for $20,000 but exceeded that, raising over $37,000 from sales and donations. Bunnings contributed additional funds to bring the total to $50,000.
The funds will help launch the Mind Health Van, a mobile service bringing mental health support directly into communities. During the event, about 50 people participated in 10-minute conversations with the van on-site.
Beacon of Light co-founder Derek Best said the idea came after confronting mental health statistics in Western Australia. “A 10-minute conversation could change the path of someone’s life,” he said.
WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch and City of Joondalup mayor Daniel Kingston attended, praising the volunteers. The Lions Club thanked the community, calling the effort “a massive community movement.”
