The Byron Bay Angling Club has donated $5,000 to the Our Kids Charity who raise money to purchase paediatric equipment for cancer kids and kids with chronic illness across the Northern Rivers.
‘Our kids raises money to purchase paediatric equipment for the Lismore Base Hospital, Tweed Hospital, Grafton Hospital and the surrounding satellite Northern Rivers hospitals,’ Rebekka Batista from Our Kids told The Echo.
‘The Byron Bay Angling Club heard about what we do because some of the people they know have gone through cancer, so that was an important connection.
The Byron Bay Angling Club raise the $5,000 through raffles to Rails Hotel patrons and will be used for homecoming care packages for children, who have had extended stays in hospital.
Welcome home
‘We have a program called the “Welcome home pack” for cancer kids that are receiving treatment outside of the area eg Brisbane. Some kids are away for six months to two years so when they come back it often takes a while to get back into their routines and lives.
‘We give the family a pack worth $1,000 to help that cost of living with vouchers for: petrol, supermarkets, clothes, and other needs particular to that family. There’s a local restaurant voucher for parents and a special gift for the child,’ explained Ms Batista.
The charity was started in 2001 by Dr Chris Ingall when he recognised that local paediatric equipment was not being funded and he set up the trust to fundraise for equipment.
‘We have raised $2.7m of equipment since 2001 with community donations,’ said Ms Batista.
‘With all the things the community has bought it really shows how our communities care. The “Welcome home pack” is something to let people know we haven’t forgotten about them.’
If anyone wants to donate, be a part of Our Kids family, or just want to know more about what we do call 6620 2705 email: [email protected] or check out their website: https://www.ourkids.org.au.
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