Dubbo locals wandering Macquarie Street on Tuesday may have noticed a very special busker out the front of Myer.
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Mel Yeates has been busking her way around Australia since December 2016, all with the aim of raising money for depression and anxiety and cancer awareness and research.
Mel started with the initial aim of raising $20,000 in 20 months for BeyondBlue and Love Your Sister charities, but in less than 6 months she had smashed that goal.
After meeting Love Your Sister founder Sam Johnson at a fundraiser, the two became good friends and the target has since been raised to $100,000.
Mel decided to take a year off to focus on raising funds for the two charities and has so far traveled 16,000 kilometres across Australia playing gigs, busking and attending fundraisers and on Tuesday she was busking out the front of the Dubbo Myer store.
She has so far raised just over $34,000 and said the generosity of people has been amazing.
“Everywhere I go there’s always generosity with people offering me a meal, accommodation or fuel cards,” Mel said.
“My car that I travel around in was also donated by a rental company in Shepparton.”
There is help out there for anyone who wants it.
- Mel Yeates, A Girl, Her Car and Her Guitar.
When Dubbo local and cancer survivor Trish Taylor heard about Mel’s goal, she offered her a place to stay.
Mel said in some way everyone had been touched by cancer or anxiety and depression.
“Everyone’s go a story to tell,” she said.
“My cousin had Leukemia and had a double lung transplant.”
When she was younger Mel lost two friends in a tragic accident and suffered with anxiety and depression as a result.
“Two funerals in one day was heartbreaking,” she said.
Mel will continue to busk around Australia until December 2017.
Her message to anyone suffering from depression or anxiety was to seek help and for women to get regular breast checks.
“There is help out there for anyone who wants it,” she said.
“And for ladies to get their breasts checked.”
If you would like to donate to Mel’s cause please head to www.gofundme.com/gcgmy
Or to find out more about her gigs just head to her Facebook page A Girl, Her Car and Her Guitar.