GEORGE CALOMBARIS HAS MADE AN IMPRESSIVE NAME FOR HIMSELF ON THE MELBOURNE RESTAURANT SCENE NOT TO MENTION THE METEORIC SUCCESS OF MASTERCHEF, BUT GEORGE STILL FINDS TIME TO SUPPORT THE CAUSES THAT ARE CLOSE TO HIS HEART.

George supports the Cerebral Palsy Education Centre (CPEC) and has a special friend, Alexandra Ward that attends the centre. Last year George walked in the St George Melbourne Marathon with the children of CPEC
that raised $300,000 in vital funds to help continue the miraculous work
and outcomes provided for the children at the centre.

This year again, CPEC is the official charity of the St George Melbourne Marathon and George is urging the community, with a special shout out to the Greek community with 2010 marking the 2500th anniversary of the first ever marathon in Greece (490 BC) to either run or walk in one of the six events and to set up a fundraising page to help raise funds for the special
services that CPEC provides.

3008 spoke to George about the event and life in the public eye.
Congratulations on the fabulous success of Masterchef, has it been overwhelming to see such a huge response to the show and to your identity as prominent Melbourne celebrity?

It has been a pleasant surprise to see Australians embrace MasterChef. It\'s changing a generation and encouraging young people to learn to cook, get to know ingredients and to be educated about what they eat.

Are you planning to walk with and in support of the children of CPEC in the upcoming 2010 Melbourne Marathon?

Unfortunately I am unable to participate in this year\'s event as I will be interstate with another commitment on the day. I am there in spirit, as I participated last year and walked along with the kids. As the chosen charity again this year for the Melbourne Marathon, how will funds raised make a difference to these children and what is the target for this important fundraiser?

The funds go directly towards the services at CPEC. The cost of running CPEC is $1.6 million pa and the government contributes $450,000. CPEC has to fundraise the rest. For every $9000 raised it could enable another child to come off the three year wait list. The earlier the children receive intervention therapy the greater the outcome.

Do you feel a responsibility to community involvement because you have such a huge public following?

I think everyone has a responsibility to their community; I am just able to convey my involvement in a more public way. Everyone should give back to the community the best way they can.

This year\'s Melbourne Marathon must be especially important to you as it celebrates the 2500th anniversary of the 1st Olympic marathon in Greece, would you like to see the Greek community of Melbourne getting involved and raising funds for CPEC with you?

Absolutely, CPEC has about 15 children of Greek Heritage that attend day and after school programs so I urge the Greek Community to donate. Every donation, no matter how small helps. What\'s next on the culinary calendar
for George Calombaris?

I am opening a new restaurant with partner and friend Shane Delia in Kew. It will be called St Katherine\'s and will be open early 2011.

This is an exciting project for us both to be working on together.

Stay tuned!
www.cpec.org.au
www.melbournemarathon.com.au