April 24, 2013
A fundraising morning tea on Saturday at Accents Restaurant in Kingaroy produced a happy outcome for young couple Jesika and Derek Richards.
Their son Vincent was born on June 27 last year, and almost immediately his parents realised something was wrong.
The little boy would constantly scream in pain and was always irritable.
After several months of tests, doctors diagnosed that he suffers from Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Disease and Eosinophilic Colitis: a rare disease that causes his white blood cells to attack any foods or liquids that enter his body.
This meant the young boy had to be fed a special medicated formula though a nasogastric tube – something that would still be happening today if not for a an operation last November which now allows Vincent to be fed by a tube directly into his stomach.
The South Burnett community rallied to support the family and Vincent’s operation was paid for by public donations.
But Kingaroy resident Hannah Winter wanted to help the young couple, too.
As Vincent’s operation was already over by the time she heard about the couple’s plight, she thought it would be nice to do something different.
So she applied to internet charity Random Acts for a $400 grant to buy the family a holiday.
And within a few hours she was astonished when the East Coast Vacation Group donated a week’s holiday at Caloundra’s Golden Reef Apartments for $299, leaving her enough to buy a family pass to UnderWater World as well.
However Hannah decided she wanted to do even more.
So she contacted Angela Stephen at Accents Restaurant in Kingaroy to explain her idea, and work soon began on a “Supermum Appreciation Morning Tea”.
As well as inviting the general public along to the morning tea, local businesses were also asked if they could lend support.
Hannah also set up a bank account where anyone who wanted to could make deposits to help the family.
“The response was overwhelming,” Hannah said.
Saturday’s morning tea attracted 40 guests and helped raise $500 towards Vincent’s ongoing medical care.
Donations by the public and local businesses added another $2800 to the total.
Parents Jes and Derek, their daughter Ruby and Vincent were guests of honour at the event.
But they had no forewarning about Hannah’s extra efforts until Anita McAllister, from Random Acts, stepped up to present them with their week’s holiday at Caloundra, a family pass to UnderWater World and another family pass donated by Australia Zoo.
And then the gifts from local businesses began flowing.
The Supermum Appreciation Morning Tea was supported by Chantilly Charm, Kingaroy Toyworld, Al E Katz Salon, Star Tyrepower Kingaroy, Pharmacy Essentials Kingaroy, Burtons Shoes, Heartfelt Flowers and Gifts, Total Eclipse Kingaroy, Coppards Menswear, the Kingaroy Golf Club, Betta Electrical Kingaroy, ECOWash Kingaroy, TASTE South Burnett, Target Kingaroy, Enchanted Faces Face-Painting, Cake & Whimsy, Ruby’s Restaurant, The Random Act, Australia Zoo, Golden Leaf Apartments at Caloundra and Accents Restaurant.
