This week’s wonderful donors have a lot to be  proud of – they’ve helped to change three very special little lives: Bella’s, Amy’s and Emma’s.  A big hug and a loud round of applause to: Anita Galloway, Moira Marsh, Nicole Powell, Jesse Kapler, Tony & Elizabeth Brimble, Antonio Russo, Norval Hope, Jyoteka, Barry Maitland, Janette Hoyles, Jade Cartwright, Tamara McDonald, Jo Dickson, Anthony George, M Cianciaruso, Jacqueline Rowe, Daniel Harkin, Rebecca Waterhouse, Vanessa Bosanquet, Melissa Lane, Bridget Cook, Rachel Mckay, Sam Spall, Victoria Masterman, Allison Lowden, Madeleine Hetherton, Jane Morgan, Daniel Hasell, Lisa Smith, Kim, Den & Erin Hutchison, Georgina Robertson, Anthony Lee, Megan Oldfield, Richard Does, James Atkinson, L’il Auusie Prems, Jane O’Connor, Geraldine Ramselaar, Beryl Leggett, Kirsten Jackson, Scott Lawrence, Tony Hally, Rian Creighton, Norm Edney, Sarah Mulder, Natasha Tompkins, Jenny Witterick, Patrice Hawkins, Maria Jass, Aimee Davies, Lucy Williams, Pauline Clarke, Scott Heavisides, Sherryn Sheahan, Nikki Barfoot, Lauren Failla, Simon Steward, Mary-Lyn Lewenhoff, Margaret Vella, Natalie Katers, Shane Taylour, Bronwyn Varley, Annette Katilius, Alan Barkauskas,  and Leanne Given.

Australian children’s charity I Give A Buck Foundation of Australia Ltd assists children from disadvantaged families who also suffer from a life-threatening or life-altering illness or condition – with particular focus on terminally ill children. 

Many thanks to the following for their wonderful generosity in recent days: Meredith Flash, Sean Wilson, Melissa Kearney, Lalor North Secondary School, Neville Dibbs, PJ Mitchell, Kim Pickering, Ray Zahra, TF Palmer & Sonia Reynolds

Tara was born in 2005.  She seemed like the perfect baby who never cried until she was rushed to hospital at just 6 weeks old with what seemed like an ordinary case of bronchiolitis. During that evening she suffered a seizure that lasted for over 90 minutes and she has never had a seizure-free day since.

Tara’s underlying condition remained a mystery until she was diagnosed with Dysphagia and Floppy Baby Syndrome in 2006 and with Autism in 2007.  In 2009 Tara was also diagnosed with Dravet Syndrome – one of the most catastrophic forms of epilepsy. This is a very rare condition effecting only a few hundred children in Australia, and probably less that 1000 worldwide.  It is life threatening and there is a high chance that one day a seizure will take Tara from her family.  In order to do everything possible to prevent this from happening Tara has a seizure response assistance dog to be beside her particularly at night.

On an average day Tara has over 100 minor seizures and around 5 to 10 seizures that render her unconscious.

We first met Tara earlier in 2011 she was five and a half years old and still not fully toilet trained as, although she knew how to use the toilet, every major seizure resulted in an accident, meaning that the amount of nappies needed on a daily basis was similar to a new born baby.  Tara was on a costly, special thickened fluids diet and regular medication.  The costs associated with these day to day expenses added to the special equipment that she needs to support her and keep her safe during seizures have put a big strain on the family budget.

Tara’s mum is her full-time carer and her dad helps during the day after working night-shift as a baker in the country town in which they live.

Due to the severity of Tara’s seizures she often ends up unable to walk, on a good day she can walk but a bad day she cannot even support her head.

In February 2011 we were able to support the family by contributing $2,000 (via Tara’s Car Appeal) towards a full transmission rebuild on the family’s wheelchair modified Tarago which had stopped working in reverse. Without the van, Tara couldn’t access her Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and other medical appointments.

Tara’s Appeal raised a little extra than required and we were able to put that to good use in July by buying Tara a much needed new bed that could fit her mum in it too for those nights that Tara needed someone to sleep with her.
During the time that we’ve known Tara she has sadly deteriorated and needs additional supports.  She’s using a walking frame now and really needs a special seat that will give her support through her seizures, and the rest period after each seizure, as well as for use during feeding as she is losing the ability to feed herself.

These special seats, called Gravity Chairs, are $1,895 each.  Tara could access $1,200 of funding towards the chair via her Helping Children with Autism package and this appeal sought to raise the remaining $695 – and did so in just 7 days!

What a great community!
Australian children’s charity I Give A Buck Foundation of Australia Ltd assists children from disadvantaged families who also suffer from a life-threatening or life-altering illness or condition – with particular focus on terminally ill children.

Through friends of friends on Facebook, Breanna’s parents heard that the Tandberg Family was raising funds to buy a special stroller for their son, Charlie – the same type of stroller that Breanna had just outgrown. They offered her stroller to the Tandbergs, who were so grateful, they donated $500 set aside for Charlie’s stroller to Breanna’s Appeal!  Charlie will have ongoing needs. They could’ve kept the money for themselves. But they chose to give it to another family in need… WE LOVE THAT!

Some people just don’t know when enough is enough! 

As if organising a HUGE upcoming fundraising charity dinner for us wasn’t enough to tackle, Dave Vanags has jus completed the Great Wall of China Half-Marathon to raise funds for us. 

Now, that’s not just any old half-marathon on the flat – Dave had to tackle 5,164 steps along the way – I’m tired just thinking about it. And it’s not as if he’s a seasoned marathon runner – this was Dave’s first.

To maximise the result for I Give A Buck! Dave arranged for a sponsorship page to be built on the website for the upcoming Vanags Family Charity Night and we did the same on the IGAB website. 

Our Sponsor Dave Appeal raised $588

The Vanags Family Charity Night page raised…………

Well, actually, I don’t know how much it raised. They won’t tell me! David and his wonderful wife Tanya are keeping it a secret to be announced at the upcoming dinner on June 4th – meanies.

In the end, it really doesn’t matter what the number is.

What matters is that there are people in our world like Tanya & David Vanags; people willing to put themselves to the test for a cause that they believe in.

Organising a charity night is a very difficult thing to do. Organising one to be held in Sydney whilst you’re living in China is unimaginable. The Vanags are living in China for two years for Dave’s work but they didn’t let that stop them.  Dave works long hours. Tanya has two pre-school aged children to look after in a foreign country. Yet, somehow, they’ve juggled work commitments, family illnesses, family bereavements, language barriers, distance barriers and a whole host more, to do something very special; something that will change so many little lives.

And they’ve managed to do it with smiles on their faces and love in their hearts. They are the loveliest people to work with, always happy and positive and encouraging.  I consider myself blessed to have them as part of my life and I simply cannot wait to meet them on June 4th.  

Barb Blashki – Founder

Australian children’s charity I Give A Buck Foundation of Australia Ltd assists children from disadvantaged families who also suffer from a life-threatening or life-altering illness or condition – with particular focus on terminally ill children.

Two years ago today our charity was created and all the hard work began behind the scenes…

So a big Happy Birthday to all of those wonderful people who have helped to make this dream a reality!

Special thanks to Doug Amos who has been there since day one.  And to Liat Harrower who may have come in later but, boy, has she made up for it since!  And to my wonderful family, also there since day one; my husband Peter who is forever my rock and my gorgeous kids Jack & Mia who are a constant source of helpful ideas and inspiration.

Special thanks also to Caroline Whiteside. Caroline sat at my table and listened when I first started putting my ideas together and gave valued advice. Since then she’s volunteered her time to help with administrative tasks, has sent me links to every useful article she’s stumbled across that may prove to be of some help (and many have) and donated to just about every appeal we’ve ever run.  Just last month she made it to the BIG Buckers Club!

There are so many people who have helped along the way and I’m sure to forget someone (sorry!) but I’d like to acknowledge the ongoing contributions, both financial and other, of:  Louise Ambry, Melissa Kearney, Charley Jones, The Quigley Family, Ricky Buchanan, Anne Oberin, Dani McLeod, Hava Eski Balci, Kate Butterfield, Scott Grinter, Kim Pickering, Melissa Lane, David & Tanya Vanags and Salli Lockhart.

Thank you to our inaugural Ambassador Blake Worrall-Thompson from Ministry of Wellbeing and to our terrific sponsors: Green Label Web Design, Artsy-Tec , Immij Printing, Sportspartners and PharmaSave.

Much of our work has been possible due to receiving grants from the following wonderful organisations: Australian Unity Foundation, Grosvenor Foundation, Australian Ethical Investment & Superannuation, Salesforce Foundation and Google.  Thank you so much for your invaluable assistance.

But the vast majority of our work has been possible due to the wonderful donations that we receive from all the fabulous members of our little community who really do give a buck in every sense! – There have been a lot of little lives changed over the last year or so and you should all be very proud. Thank you.

The biggest thank you must to go to families of our wonderful IGAB children.  They have trusted us to share their stories with our community and we love them for it.

Happy Birthday Everyone!

Barb Blashki – Founder
Australian children’s charity I Give A Buck Foundation of Australia Ltd assists children from disadvantaged families who also suffer from a life-threatening or life-altering illness or condition – with particular focus on terminally ill children.

We have an exciting Charity Night Auction Item SCOOP to share with you all!!!

We have just been advised that renown celebrity chef Damian Heads from the hit Channel 10 show Ready, Steady Cookhas generously offered his own time and immense talent once again in support of The 10th Annual Vanags Family & Friends Charity Night – this year supporting I Give A Buck!.

Four people will get to visit Damian’s top 5 star restaurant Steel Bar & Grill in Sydney on a Saturday lunch (on a date to be confirmed when the restaurant is closed) and cook a lovely 3 course lunch with Damien in his AMAZING kitchen!

He will guide all four of you through the whole cooking experience and then you’ll get to sit in the restaurant with him and enjoy the wonderful food you have all created!

We’re also very excited that Damian and his wife Jenni will be joining us again as guests at The Epping Club on Saturday 4 June!

Brisbane born Damian started his career in the kitchens at the Brisbane Hilton. He stayed just long enough to complete his apprenticeship … the day after Damian finished his apprenticeship he was on a plane to Europe, with his knives packed in his backpack.

By January 2000, he was back in Sydney, as Sauce Chef at the Bennelong Restaurant at the Sydney Opera House. In mid 2001 he moved to Milsons as Chef de Partie, and the next year he was awarded the Josephine Pignolet Award for Best Young Chef.

In 2003 he opened the very popular Garfish, before embarking on a six month study trip (as part of his prize for the Josephine Pignolet Award) through Europe and the United Kingdom, visiting a wide variety of restaurants and meeting with some of the world’s best chefs.

On returning to Australia early 2005 Damian took the role of Head Chef at Fuel Bistro, Surry Hills, Sydney.

In 2006 Damian joined forces with synonymous architect Michael McCann (best known for Flying Fish, The Argyle, Toko and many more) in his restaurant Pony, situated in The Rocks on the doorstep of Sydney Harbour. He opened Steel 2 years later in the CBD, and then late last year, added a second Pony Restaurant in Neutral Bay.

Check out Damian’s restaurants www.ponydining.com.au & Steel Bar and Grill www.steelbarandgrill.com

Please share this post with anyone you know who may be interested in this fantastic one-off opportunity.  You don’t even have to be present on the night – you can let Tanya know what your bid is  at any time. 

So start thinking about the people you would like to share this with, and get your bids ready!!

Caroline says “”When Red Cross or Able contact me to sell raffle tickets, I tell them I’m going to donate money to my favourite charity, I Give a Buck, instead. I know that all my money is going to a child in need and that’s important to me. It’s not much money each time, but I hope it’s making a difference on an individual level.” Caroline’s cummulative donations have just passed $500 – that makes her a BIG Bucker!

Michelle Ward became a BIG Bucker! and said “As a mother of 2 healthy children I cannot fathom the experience it must be for both Bethany and her family having an inoperable brain tumor and the care that she must require.  I sincerely hope that my donation gives the family some much needed help and rest and that they take some time for themselves to rejuvenate and hopefully have some fun.”

The success of Tara’s Transport Appeal leads to another lovely story about her in the Bendigo Advertiser.  A big thank you to journalist Karen Sweeney for her ongoing support.