By MEGAN OGLE
A LOCAL couple are raising funds to help families in need one bag of rice at a time.
Zee Wetsuit owners Cheanene and Bernie Filer have travelled to Bali for the past three years to deliver large bags of rice to families in need.
Ms Filer, who has been a regular visitor to Bali since she was 19 years old, said she often saw families and women who don’t have enough food and wanted to help anyway she could.
“When I go to Bali, I don’t go to the tourist areas, I go to the less-travelled areas and you see a lot of poverty there,” she said.
Ms Filer said a friend’s marriage sparked the idea for the fund-raising campaign which is now in its fourth year.
“I have friends from Bali and they were getting married, and I was wondering what to buy them,” Ms Filer said.
“A friend suggested rice was the best present as it was food, so I bought a large bag of rice and the couple were so happy they cried.
“That’s when I decided to do something and I started Rice for Life, one bag of rice is enough to feed an average family for three months.”
Ms Filer said every cent raised for the campaign is spent on rice, and Ms Filer delivered the bags herself on the back of a motorbike across Bali.
If you would like to be involved, head along to the fund-raising event held on Thursday 28 April at Wagtail Coffee, 1467 David Low Way, Yaroomba, from 7pm for a three-course meal. Tickets are $25 each and can be purchased from Wagtails, Zee Wetsuits or by calling 0414 524 496.
