ORGANISERS have praised the local community for its support after a special race day raised more than $18,000 for charity.
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The 'Where There's A Will' and Australian Hotel Association (AHA) event at Scone earlier this year was dubbed a huge success.
Hotels and pubs from across the Upper Hunter jumped at the chance to help raise awareness of mental health.
Proceeds from the race day went to 'Where There's A Will', a local organisation set up after popular Scone man Will Carrigan took his own life in December 2015.
It aims to deliver recognised mental health programs in the region and provide funding for teachers to receive training on how to empower students.
Royal Hotel publican and event organiser Ian Campbell said he was pleased with the amount of support.
"Will's death hit pretty close to home so it's great that they're looking at the grassroots," he said.
"The race day was well supported and attended by everyone; we're looking at making this an annual event now.
"There was plenty of support from the hotels, I don't think people realise how much they put into the community.
"They do give a lot, they don't just take it all with them."
'Where There's A Will' chairman Jason Brooks added it was another important step in addressing the mental health crisis.
"It's not so much about how much money was raised but more about raising awareness of this issue," he said.
Organisations that donated to 'Where There's A Will' included the AHA, Scone Race Club, Railway Hotel Murrurundi, White Hart Hotel, Graze Willow Tree, Durham Hotel Wingen, Victorial Hotel Moonan Flat, Linga Longa Hotel Gundy, Belmore Hotel Scone, Golden Fleece Scone, Commercial Hotel Aberdeen, Royal Hotel Merriwa, Tourist Hotel Sandy Hollow, Denman Hotel, Royal Hotel Muswellbrook, Railway Hotel Muswellbrook, Muswellbrook Hotel, and Royal Hotel Scone.
A number of community members and organisations also generously donated items as part of an auction.
These items were: treasury wines (Ann Maree Carey), Royal Hotel dinner (Royal Hotel), Guernsey (Tracey Bloomfield), overnight stay at Yamba (Pacific Hotel Yamba), AFL package (Curt Pahl Global Gaming), Mug (WTAW), Holiday – Lennox Head (The Lennox), Chairs (Pauline Carrigan).
