VMMA Donation to Very Special Kids
Thursday 14th October 2010
The VMMA made a donation to Very Special Kids at their facility at Malvern on Thursday 14th October 2010, members who attend were Dave, Viv, Bob, Jean, Mal, Sarah, Chris & Sharyn.
Involvement with individuals and community based organisations continually evolves and leads the VMMA down many paths. One of those journeys is with Erin who some of you would remember back in March 2007 the VMMA Annual Presidents Ride raised funds and purchased a "Rifton Pacer Gait Trainer" for Erin who was 4 years of age.
Our Very Special Kid, Erin and Michelle.
Erin has a condition known as Cerebral Atrophy, which means her brain didn't form correctly in the womb; although she is 7 years old she has the ability of a very slow 9 month old baby and suffers from multiple seizures throughout the day and night and requires constant special attention.
This condition has progressively required additional medication to give Erin comfort, but medication in time has side effects and in Erin’s case this medication is slowly being withdrawn, as Erin’s journey continues Mal, Michelle and Aiyana have been support by Very Special Kids and were the Family Face for Very Special Kids in 2009.
Yes, we have made another worthy donation to a community based organisation.
The VMMA was invited by the family to assist with the promotion of the Pink Pig Appeal in 2009 which involved five giant pink pigs weighing 700kg each travelling throughout Victorian towns to collect donations and distribute information about Very Special Kids. Mal was overwhelmed by the response of both the VMMA membership and Freemasons in general who introduced themselves to the Pink Pigs and provided valuable local support throughout country Victoria.
Through our involvement with Erin the VMMA has donated directly to Very Special Kids $1200 with our recent donation in October 2010 being received by Yvonne Flyn, Fundraising Manager who then gave us a guided tour of the special facilities provided to these Very Special Kids.
Many of us have heard of Very Special Kids but have little knowledge of the unique support it offers to families.
Yvonne Flyn gave just a very informative explanation of the function of Very Special Kids
and showed us the facilities.
Established in 1985 by two families whose children had died from leukaemia, Very Special Kids has developed into an organisation with more than 50 staff and nearly 400 volunteers, providing services and support across seven offices throughout Victoria.
The purpose of Very Special Kids is to support families throughout their experience of caring for children with life-threatening illnesses. These services are available to families free-of-charge from diagnosis through to recovery or bereavement and provides a range of physical, emotional, social and spiritual support across a range of settings, including the hospital, hospice and home.
Very Special Kids House is Victoria’s only children’s hospice!!
Erin’s journey has and will continue to utilised the facilities at Very Special Kids House.
If you or your lodge are looking for a worthy organisation to support please give some consideration to Very Special Kids during their celebration of 25 years.
Reported by CW.
