Every Parents Nightmare

[FIGJAM]

Watch for information about another special FundRaiser which is going to be for the for the niece (of a Vic Rock regular), who last September went to Bali with friends and was seriously injured in a diving accident and can no longer walk.

The fund raiser is going to be to raise fund for a trip to the USA to particpate in a program to help the young girl walk again.

Some wonderful help is possible, if you can get there.

At the moment, requests are being made to bands to help out and a venue is being sought.

A date hasn'tbeen chosen for the event, but when it is, put it in your iphone to remind you or have it tattooed in your diary.

[longgonebaby]

Thanks Figjam. You're right, it every parents nightmare. A family trip to Bali ends in tragedy for my 20 yo niece who had a diving accident that broke her back. She spent her 21st birthday flat on her back in hospital with no real hope for the future.

Thankfully, 6 months down the track she is gaining some movement in her lower limbs. To begin with she had movement and feeling in her arms (though not so much in her hands) and feeling but no movement from the waist down. Now she is holding herself upright on a frame and although one leg seems to be working, one still isn't very well.

Because she's young and fit there is great hope that a program in the US called Project Walk Project Walk® exists to provide an improved quality of life for people with spinal cord injuries through intense exercise-based recovery programs, education, support and encouragement. It is a non-profit organisation. Have a look at what they are about: http://www.projectwalk.org/

Rhiannon and her Mum are booked to travel to the US on May 9 and need all the help they can get. Her parents have sold or mortgaged everything to pay for her care this far and the situation is pretty dire. They have to modify their house before the hospital will release her home and they are adding a gym to give Rhiannon the opportunity for therapy every day.

We've booked the Keysborough Senior Cits Hall for April 9th and have had a great response from the rock'n'roll community so far. Atomic Hi-tones, the Longbillies and Jump'n'Jive are playing and we are awaiting confirmation of a couple of other bands. We've had loads of people offer donations for the raffle. And really good prizes they are too!

Tickets will be $15 and what we are looking for now is any further donations that anyone may care to offer for the raffle, and bums on seats. I've been told the hall holds 200, and I'd be stoked if we could fill it. Rhiannon will be attending on the night as well. Vivian of Holloway has very kindly donated an outfit for her to wear and Atomic Rose is doing her hair and makeup for the night. Both Vivan of Holloway and Atomic Rose have also donated for the raffle. Thanks girls!!!

Rhiannon is VERY excited about this night. She's a lovely bright bubbly girl with a great singing voice but has never really been exposed to rock'n'roll. I'd love her to see the r'n'r community at its most awesome as well as being able to give her much needed financial support for her trip to the US.

Every parent out there knows.....but for the grace of God, this could've been their child. It happens so often and we never think it will happen to us.

Rhiannon is an only child, her mother has taken her to Bali frequently and she knew the pool she was swimming in. And yet......a tragedy happens. She is also a strong swimmer. It can happen to anyone!

You can follow Rhiannon's progress on Facebook. She has a page called Step by Step that is detailing her progress. Her family is also raising money for spinal awareness and the Ski to Sci which stands for Spinal Cord Injury and it's to raise money to bring the Walk On Project to Melbourne.

[Steve]

Looking forward to the event on 9 April longgonebaby, and thank you for filling us in on who the fund-raiser if to benefit. As Maryanne said, it is every parents worst nightmare to have a child experience what Rhiannon has gone through. Hope the night is a huge success in terms of dollars raised.

[longgonebaby]

Thanks so much, Steve. We have had some wonderful support from business offering goods and services for raffles and as I get a list I'll post it on here so everyone can see what goodies they will be in the running for.

It's looking to be a very VERY big night! Rhiannon is following the progress via her facebook page.