Sydney Markets Fruit Auction Raises $75,000 for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Sydney Market wholesalers have raised more than $75,000 for charity at a special auction including summer fruits.

The money raised goes to Save Our Sons, the charity supporting sufferers of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD).

The muscle-wasting condition affects one in 3,500 boys, with the onset appearing between two and five years of age. DMD rarely affects girls.

By about 12 years of age, the muscle weakness becomes pronounced, eventually affecting the breathing.

Going under the hammer were 15 fruit boxes including a hamper of mangoes, cherries and peaches selling to a consortium of wholesalers for $30,000, with the fruit also being donated to nearby hospitals.

Golf lessons, a lunch, a raffle and machinery raised a further $45,000.

The Summer of Fruit auction replaces the separate cherry and mango auctions, which have launched their seasons for decades.

In 2014 alone, the separate cherry auction at Sydney Markets raised $65,000 and mango auction raised $26,000.

It’s a long tradition at the Sydney Markets, with the first ever charity box of mangoes raising just $65 in 1970.

This year’s amount is less than that raised last year, reflecting tougher conditions for fruit retailers.

Chairman of the Sydney Markets Auction committee, Nick Martelli said it was hard to find enough good fruit for the auction due to a break in the mango season and a scarce supply of cherries.

“Mangoes from the Northern Territory, Queensland peaches, cherries from Hillston, NSW, so all over the country basically,” he said.

“It took a lot of time, a lot of searching. To be honest, a mango or cherry auction is a lot easier, but it turned out really well.”

Bass Abboud, chair of the Save Our Sons charity, said by age 12 sufferers were usually in a wheel chair and many died by the age of 20.

“We’re hoping for a cure for a disease, which at the moment is incurable,” Mr Abboud said.

“We’re thankful for every dollar we get.

“These guys at the Wholesale Markets, they work long hours and they’re the lifeblood of Sydney.”

Source