MEJ Charity Spotlight – Bricks & Smiles, Steptember, Canteen & Beryl Women Inc 

The MEJ team pride themselves on being active members of the Canberra community, and helping out where they can with causes close to their hearts. 

Each month the team takes the opportunity to share the work of some amazing not-for-profit and charity organisations, and highlight how they make a major difference in people’s lives. 

Last month the MEJ team were a proud supporter of Steptember, with a number of staff taking up the challenge of 10 thousand steps a day while fundraising, to make a positive impact for people with cerebral palsy. The team did a total of 8,717,407 steps throughout the month, and raised $2,968.00.

Partner Kirsten Leitch shared her passion for charity Bricks & Smiles this month too, which was established in honour of her nephew Zac Minty, who sadly passed away in 2022 after an almost three-year battle with Rhabdomyosarcoma. Zac’s family established the charity based on Zac’s wishes to give kids who are undergoing treatment the chance to pick out their dream LEGO set, as well as donating much needed funds for research to help find a cure for Sarcomas. MEJ was proud to make a donation to support their inspiring work.

At our recent charity morning tea, Canteen Australia was chosen for their life-changing support to help young people impacted by cancer. Cat Brunker says the charity helps connect young people with similar experiences, and specialist staff to help them. 

“I chose Canteen as it is an Australian-based organisation that provides support to young people (12–25-year-olds) who have been impacted by cancer.” Cat says. 

Canteen has created many different programs to target diverse experiences of cancer diagnosis, for instance, a program tailored to LGBTQI+ youth who have been diagnosed, as well as a program for those who have lost their siblings or parents to cancer.

Canteen offers free counselling and learning and support resources, services which are extremely valuable to young people impacted by cancer in some way.”

The second charity chosen was Beryl Women Inc, the longest women’s running refuge in Australia, providing crisis accommodation for women and their children who are homeless or at risk of homelessness as a result of domestic and/or family violence. 

Practice Manager Corinne Smith says she’s grateful to the MEJ partners for their ongoing generosity with very worthy causes. 

“I chose Beryl Women Inc as I believe the work they do is meaningful and important to the Canberra Community and without organisations like these many people are left with nowhere to turn.”

Thanks to all of these causes for their important work.”

Keep an eye out for our next update to read about some more great charities.