Shine Like Charli: a mission close to our hearts
We are thrilled to announce a heartfelt collaboration with an incredibly talented local artist, Jaqueline Burgess to raise crucial funds for Childhood Cancer research through Shine Like Charli. A beautiful new art piece commissioned by Jaqueline will be auctioned at the end of Summer, giving everyone in the community an opportunity to bid and own this stunning piece, with all proceeds dedicated to supporting research at the Childhood’s Cancer Institute.
Shine Like Charli was founded by local Illawarra mum Faye Hollands, whose daughter Charli was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia at nine years old. After two years of intensive treatment, Faye and her family became passionately committed to making a difference for others facing childhood cancer.
“Cancer kills three children every week in Australia – more than any other disease. And 70% of the children like Charli who survive, suffer long-term side effects from their treatment. This needs to stop.
For some types of cancer, such as certain brain tumours, there are still no effective treatment options. For other cancers, the only treatments available cause serious problems, sometimes for the remainder of the child’s life. Even then a child is successfully treated, there is the ever-present threat of relapse, and the wait to see if there will be ‘late effects’ that become apparent as the child matures.
These challenges require novel solutions, and it is research that will provide these.” – Faye Hollands
As part of our Summer Campaign, McNeice has pledged to donate $100 from every single property sold throughout Summer directly to Shine Like Charlie. This generous promise transforms every successful sale into a tangible contribution toward the Childhood’s Cancer Institute, providing vital funds to accelerate research and secure better futures for children battling this disease.
Jaqueline’s art process: getting inspired by the Illawarra!
Jaqueline’s artistic process is deeply rooted in the natural environment and the feeling a place evokes. Her creation often starts with a coastal or bushwalk, where she fully immerses herself to capture the emotional essence of the moment. The final painting, which will be auctioned off at the end of Summer, was inspired by one of our images, taken by McNeice Photographer Ryan Morgan, as part of our Summer Campaign! You may have spotted this on our insta feed…
A community-wide canvas: cups for a cause
Beyond the auction, we are bringing this stunning artwork to the everyday lives of the Illawarra community!
The piece will appear on Bread Espresso & coffee cups across their four cafes in the Illawarra. Each cup features a QR code for easy donation, transforming your daily coffee ritual into an opportunity to support childhood cancer research and families. You will also have the opportunity to bid on the artwork via this same QR code. This initiative aims to spread awareness and bring joy to the cause across the region.
This partnership is more than just an art auction; it’s a powerful, community-wide commitment to funding life-saving research at the Childhood’s Cancer Institute. We invite you to follow the auction details, scan the QR code on your next coffee cup, and share this story.
Your support makes the difference.