The annual Very Special Kids Piggy Bank Appeal comes to the Yarrawonga Newsagency with a community event at the local Commonwealth Banks and other venues in Wodonga, Cobram, Echuca and Shepparton from Friday, July 19 to Saturday, July 27.
The local branches and venues will be fundraising, selling cute piggy merchandise and encouraging the community to support local families in need.
The Keenan family from Shepparton have been supported by Very Special Kids for over a year now, due to their almost eight-year-old son’s conditions.
Judd was diagnosed with Bainbridge-Ropers syndrome, a rare genetic condition, as well as cerebral palsy, epilepsy and autism.
Judd is an active boy with a great sense of humour, however his conditions mean that he requires highly specialised care.
“There was no local respite option for us. Not only could Very Special Kids meet Judd’s complex needs but they also provide whole family support to his siblings and to us parents”, says mum, Sarah.
“Very Special Kids met our needs with people who are highly skilled. We know they understand kids like Judd.“It has been nothing short of life changing. They make the future a lot brighter because we can share the load and we’re not doing it on our own.”
The Keenan family receive specialised counselling from Very Special Kids Family Support Practitioner Jenni, who also lives in the area. Very Special Kids supports 45 families in the Loddon Mallee region, 51 in the Hume region, and more than 900 across Victoria, who are caring for children with life-threatening conditions.
The organisation provides 24-hour nursing care at Victoria’s only children’s hospice, as well as professional support services for their families.
Very Special Kids Chief Executive Officer Michael Wasley said the charity relies on the Victorian community to help continue its services.
“Each year it costs over $8.8 million to operate Very Special Kids. Without donations from our community we would not be able to continue caring for these brave families,” Mr Wasley said.
