We are excited to announce Kate Bettenay from Hero Hunter as your 2024 Westfield Whitford City Local Hero!

Westfield is proud to award a community grant of $20K to help Kate at Hero Hunter to continue to grow their impact in the local community.

The 2024 Westfield Local Heroes program will award 125 grants across Australia and New Zealand – totaling $AUD1.24 million to support local communities.

Your 2024 Westfield Whitford City Local Hero is:

Kate Bettenay

Hero Hunter

Inspiring. Determined. Generous.

Kate Bettenay personally understands the importance of everyday support for families with children undergoing cancer treatment.

Kate's son, Hunter, battled blood cancer for five years. When he eventually passed in 2021, Kate reflected on her family and friends' support and the importance of small actions. She established the Hero Hunter Foundation (HHF) to help other families in the same situation.

"Despite the grief over Hunter's passing, we were extremely grateful for our support network," Kate explains. "They provided the necessary framework so we could focus on Hunter's treatment. Unfortunately, many oncology and haematology families are not so well-connected and suffer from a lack of resources. This interferes with their role as primary carers. HHF provides the 'village' needed to support all families going through this horrendous journey."

Through HHF, Kate provides various services, including meals for carers in the hospital, fuel vouchers for travel to treatment, regular remedial massage on the ward, home maintenance and professional cleaning and respite adventure days.

Kate says the meals for carers are one of the most valued services HHF provides because carers cannot leave their child during treatment, meaning they must rely on hospital food or non-perishable snacks. Each year, her foundation supports approximately 180 families.

Westfield Local Heroes are nominated and voted for by their communities. The finalist with the most community votes is the Westfield Whitford City Local Hero for 2024, receiving a $20,000 grant for the organisation they represent. Hero Hunter Foundation will use the grant to pay for a year’s worth of meals and juices to be delivered to hospitals for 2,280 carers.

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We'd like to thank and acknowledge our finalists who will receive a $5K grant for the organisation they represent...

Jennifer Bradshaw from Cancer Patients Foundation

Jennifer Bradshaw has volunteered with the Cancer Patients Foundation's Look Good Feel Better program for over 33 years. She facilitates ten workshops a year, helping up to 70 cancer patients manage the physical, psychological and social impacts of treatment. She provides them with practical tools and emotional support to regain confidence.

Nicola Henderson from Zephyr Education

Nicola Henderson is the sole WA Coordinator for Zephyr Education. She provides school essentials to children who have fled domestic violence and need to start fresh in new schools. As a retired primary school teacher, she believes keeping kids in school can help break the cycle of domestic violence.

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If you need support, please phone Lifeline: 13 11 14

Recognising all our 2024 nominees

View all of the Westfield Whitford City nominees and their organisations.