KidzFix Team Shoalhaven has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to help sick, disadvantaged and disabled children in the Shoalhaven region.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
This weekend part of the Shoalhaven team, Ian "Pig" Usher's affectionately known "Old Farts" crew has making an important trip west.
The team came across the story of almost four-year-old Temora boy Patrick "Paddy" Wallace, who as the result of a brain tumour has gone blind.
Paddy's mother Kristy is originally from Berry and when the local team heard of their plight they jumped into action.
Paddy was diagnosed with a brain tumour at just age three, with the local team putting together some items they hope will be able to help Paddy and his family.
Read more:
"We've gathered a heap of Braille books and talking play equipment and related items that we hope he can make use of," Mr Usher said.
"Included is a jacket with Paddy's name on it in special Braille lettering so he can feel and read it."
Kristy and Paddy's father Matthew are extremely well-known in the Temora area, especially for their strong community work, with the township getting behind the family.
"We will also be leaving a $500 voucher at the local chemist for the family to cover ongoing costs of medications or anything else Paddy might need," he said.
Mr Usher, from Bomaderry, has been joined on the trip by Nowra couple Wendy and Jim Wade, Ray Ellis, of Bomaderry, Peter Eckardt, of Kangaroo Valley, Wayne Jones and his family, of Nowra and Simone Welsh, of Nowra.
Two local bash cars have made the trip west, leaving Friday morning , taking around five hours to get to their destination, where they will be part of a special meet and greet event organised by the town's mayor.
It's the start of a big week for the team who will also take cars to Westmead Children's Hospital in Sydney, where KidzFix has donated $45,000, raised from various bashes held across the country, to purchase special equipment for the children's emergency ward.
KidzFix members will also tour the hospital's new rehabilitation centre.
And following that, Team Shoalhaven's focus will be on this year's Kidzfix Rally in Tasmania in September, where with six local cars, Shoalhaven will have the biggest contingent at the event.
Over the past two years, Kidzfix Team Shoalhaven, along with Bendigo Bank has raised $180,000 for a specialised NETS (newborn emergency transport service or system) ambulance for the local area.
Virtually a 'hospital on wheels' the service provides critical care transport for newborn babies requiring care not available in the hospital of birth.
Over the past decade 900 local children have been transported from Shoalhaven District Hospital using the service and now Nowra has it's very own.
The vehicle is fitted with a humidicrib and wheel-in-wheel-out module which treats and better stabilises premature babies through to 16-year-old children.
Already that ambulance has saved two young children in the Shoalhaven.