A recent event at the Glen Innes Bowling Club raised $18,500 for the Tommy and Josie Fight Leukaemia Fund.
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Organiser Leah Smith said the effort was amazing: “The response from businesses and people wanting to contribute was overwhelming in the early days and support only continued to grow. So many people were willing to put their hands up to help support such a worthy cause.”
The day consisted of darts and pool competitions with a quick game of bowls thrown in after the rain. The kids were kept entertained with face painting, coloured hairspray, nail painting and toys. There was also a cake stall.
The big money spinner was the auction which had excellent prizes through hard work and generosity. Leah Smith said that a lady in Brisbane had heard of the fund to help the families of the two Glen Innes children and she approached local organisations there. A soccer club and a theme park donated tickets as prizes.
Perhaps the star prize was a cricket bat signed by the Australian T20 squad against India.
Tommy Gill and Josie Grob are two Glen Innes children who were both diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia within two weeks of each other in April. Their families have relocated to Newcastle and live there while the children are treated in the John Hunter Hospital.
Leah Smith said: “Both children endure countless medical procedures weekly and constantly amaze everyone with their bravery. Not only are their treatments physically and emotionally taxing, but the financial burden creates an extra unnecessary stress on their families.”
The $18,500 raised will be divided equally between each family.
Both children endure countless medical procedures weekly and constantly amaze everyone with their bravery. Not only are their treatments physically and emotionally taxing, but the financial burden creates an extra unnecessary stress on their families.
- Leah Smith.