Rupert is just 8 years old and suffers from Adrenoleukodystrophy (ADL) a progressive neurological disorder.  Rupert’s condition is deteriorating rapidly. He is no longer walking, his limbs are increasingly stiff and he has lost his vision and speech.  He is now dependent on his family for all his care and is mostly bed ridden.

Rupert is no longer able to attend school but remains a happy, engaging little boy who continues to enjoy music, stories and interacting with his family and visitors.

Rupert is at serious risk of pressure concerns and skin breakdown and he desperately needs a special overlay for his mattress to keep him comfortable and to stop him getting pressures sores.  

An alternating air flow overlay, called a ‘Nodec A’ has been recommended for Rupert and this appeal seeks to raise the $3,750 needed to buy one.  Click here to go to the appeals page to donate to Rupert’s Appeal.

Note:  This is a private appeal at the request of the family.  Rupert is not the child’s real name and a stock photograph has been used.

Anna at her gymnastics class

Meet Anna.  Anna is 13 years old, suffers from autism and LOVES gymnastics.

For almost a year now Anna has been having gymnastics lessons twice a week at Balwyn Leisure Centre through its Open Doors program – a free program for eligible children.  But the free program has come to an end for Anna and she needs our help if she is to be able to continue to benefit from the classes.

Gymnastics has not only encouraged Anna to be active, but it has also increased her responsiveness.  It has made her happier and healthier and she feels as if she’s more like the other children because she’s found something that she’s good at.

Her instructor Blake Nolan says he has seen “lots of improvement in her behaviour and verbal comprehension” and would definitely encourage her to continue with gymnastics.

Anna’s lessons cost $42 each.  That’s $84 per week.  One wonderful member of the local community has already paid for Anna’s term 3 tuition and we’d like to raise the $924 needed to pay for term 4.

If you’d like to help Anna, please donate today.

Photo courtey of  Progress Leader.

Nate’s Appeal raise the $3,800 needed for his sleeping system in spectacular fashion!  And just because the appeal tally showed that we’d reached the target, people still weren’t deterred and kept on donating anyway!  So, we’ve opened another appeal for Nate – this time raising the $10,000 needed to buy him a special wheelchair. 

Nate is currently being transported in a normal stroller but this doesn’t offer him enough support and greatly aggravates his hip dysplasia.  If you’d like to help Nate into that wheelchair click here to go to the appeals page and make your donation.

You wonderful lot!  Thanks to some brilliant donations in the last 48 hours Nate’s Appeal reached its target today – his birthday!  Last Tuesday I wondered aloud in the newsletter whether we would be able to reach the half way mark by next Tuesday.  I should have known better!  Forget half way!  You delivered the whole lot – and three days early.  Nate’s going to get his wonderful Jenx Dreama Sleep System very soon! Congratulations everyone.  And Happy Birthday Nate!

Not only did we reach our target today, but the wonderful,wonderful Beverley at TrendyKidz offered to make 150 pairs for the same price as 100! That’s a 150% result for this appeal!  Ahhh… if only they could all end this way.  Special mention to Ricky Buchanan for her great contribution.  So very shortly 151 pairs of pyjamas will be making their way to children entering crisis accommodation via Backpacks 4 Aussie Kids.  Nice work everyone!

Angelcare AC420

Well that was quick!  If only all appeals were so easy!  This afternoon I launched an appeal to raise the funds needed to purchase an Angelcare Sound Monitor for 4 year old Jakeb.  Jakeb suffers from Autism and wakes frequently during the night.  He gets distressed and disoriented in the dark and his mum was very concerned that Jakeb might wander outside in his panic.  A sound monitor would ensure that she would hear Jakeb if he woke up during the night.

One quick phone call and email to Angelcare’s Australian distrbutor, Valiant Enterprises (Valco Baby) and the appeal was over – they were super quick to donate the monitor to the family and it’ll be on it’s way in the morning.

Go Valco!

Well done everybody!  The $820 raised so far for his appeal will purchase 55 of the 100 pairs of pyjamas desperately needed by children entering crisis accommodation.  Did you know that over 65,000 children, accompanied by an adult, seek crisis accommodation in Australia every year?  Worse still, more than half are turned away because there is no room for them…

Click here to donate to this appeal.

Read all about the wonderful things that this fabulous community is achieving. 

It’s been a great week and there’s lots of news to catch up on.

Click here to see this issue.