A PORTLAND medical trust set up to help locals with life-threatening illnesses is likely to wind up its activities.

The Bert Tober Portland Community Medical Trust was formed in 2017 and has so far raised about $50,000.

It is treating its first patient.

Trust member Marg Tober, the widow of Bert Tober, said while she could not reveal anything about that patient, it was exactly the scenario the Trust was set up for.

“All I can say is should the treatment be successful, it’s a game changer,” she said.

The late Mr Tober was inspired to set up the trust during the later stages of his own battle with cancer – while he could afford to try out expensive treatments, he knew there were plenty who couldn’t.

But Mrs Tober said the funding was likely to be the Trust’s last as well.

“I’m actually thinking about winding it down,” she said.

“Everyone’s trying to raise money now and there’s going to be a lot of hardship because of the floods.

“It’s a bit much to expect for them to put their hands in their pockets all the time.

“I know it’s a shame but the government do need to put more money in (to subsidise expensive medical treatments).

“This treatment (for the current patient) is $6500 a time every three weeks… that’s what we’re up against.

“It’s just very hard, you can only help one person at a time or there’s not enough to go round.”

Instead Mrs Tober encouraged locals to donate to the likes of Portland District Health.

There was also another similar organisation to the Tober Trust set up Australia-wide.

She wanted to make the Trust’s intentions clear now as many locals had donated to it.

● While the Trust will wind up, one of its most-loved events will be making a comeback this year as a final fundraiser for it to help the patient undergoing treatment.

A Melbourne Cup event, complete with Fashions of the Field, will be held at the Royal Hotel on Tuesday November 1 from noon to 4.30pm.

While the event is a fundraiser for the Trust, it will not run it as it has in the past (it was last held in 2019 at the Gordon Hotel).

The Royal Hotel’s Coolroom and adjacent outdoor area will be the focus for the event, with the $65 entry including a glass of bubbly and canapes during the day, as well as live music from Matt Sell – the races will be on a big screen.

Meghan Bacon from the Royal Hotel said there would also be sweeps, raffles, and prizes for Fashions of the Field.

Tickets can be purchased from the Eventbrite website.

“We’re going to donate part of the ticket sales to the (Trust) and all the money from all of the raffles as well as a few prizes and things from the sponsors,” Ms Bacon said.