WHEN Hotel Paradiso opens its doors on Saturday 20 June, it will be for a cause close to Ashleigh Trotter’s heart – honouring the memory of her mother, Linda, who died from breast cancer in 2022.
In the years since, that grief has become a driving force. Ashleigh, one of Hotel Paradiso’s business partners, has channelled her loss into action by hosting an annual fundraiser. This year they aim to raise $15,000 for the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute (ONJCRI) in Melbourne.
“My mum was honestly one of a kind,” Ashleigh said. “She was the most caring, humble, loving mother with not a bad bone in her body. I am truly so lucky to have had her in my life as long as I did.
“Losing her was the hardest thing that has ever happened to me. I know she would be so proud knowing that I’m raising money for research to hopefully one day prevent anyone from having to go through loss as a result of breast cancer.”
The cause is personal in more ways than one. Following her cousin’s diagnosis at just 32, Ashleigh discovered she carries the BRCA2 gene – a genetic variant associated with significantly elevated breast cancer risk. She underwent a preventative mastectomy at 30.
“Not everyone is as lucky,” she said.
Last year’s event raised almost $9,000, with more than $10,000 worth of raffle and auction items donated by local businesses. This year, the prize pool has already reached $16,000.
With 270 guests already booked ahead of the 20 June event and capacity for 350, Ashleigh said the response had moved her deeply.
Associate Professor Delphine Merino from ONJCRI will speak at the event about her laboratory’s work. Associate Professor Merino leads the Tumour Progression and Heterogeneity Laboratory, where her team is investigating why and how breast cancer spreads to vital organs, and why it so often evades standard treatments.
ONJCRI Chief Operating Officer, Dr Christine De Nardo, said community fundraising “provides an important source of funding to allow our researchers to test new ideas, generate critical early evidence, explore promising therapies, and be more competitive for national grant schemes.
“Such funds can be used to test thousands of potential therapies in human cancer cells to identify the most effective options for aggressive breast cancer.”
The event runs from midday until 11pm, 20 June at Hotel Paradiso. Tickets are available at hotelparadiso.com.au/reservations
First published in the Frankston Times – 9 June 2026
