Leila Bright just wants to deal with ‘normal’ parenting problems but she’s carrying a problem that few parents have to face.
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Leila and her partner, Brent Stewart, are raising money for surgery for their daughter, Mia.
The surgery is scheduled for next year and Leila, quite rightly, had a mild panic this week about the prospect of having to raise another $130,000 of the required $300,000. That’s about $15,000 a month until they leave.
Most of Wagga knows about Mia and her condition.
People have thrown some spare change into collection tins, attended fundraisers, read her story and heard about the inclusive playground that Leila was an integral part of bringing to Wagga.
What most people don’t know is the hours of lobbying, asking for help and planning it takes to get Mia what she needs – and just how easy it is for you to help.
Friends of the family have taken to Facebook in a plea to get Wagga to help. If about 2600 individuals or businesses donated just $50, it would cover the remaining funds.
You may not know Mia or her family so are left wondering what’s in it for you but imagine if the tables were turned.
What if the only way to help your child was an expensive surgery performed overseas and the only way to get that money was to appeal to the public?
Because raising $300,000 is insurmountable without assistance, that sum cannot be raised by friends and family alone.
You would want every individual who read this to come to your aid.
That’s what Leila is asking, and quite reluctantly because even she admits she hesitates to ask for help.
And it’s not like they have sat idly by, waiting for the cash to roll in. The family has been in the community cooking barbecues, shaking tins, manning garage sales and organising events.
This is about more than just giving up a bit of cash, because who’s really going to miss $50?
It’s about knowing that you’ve truly helped make a difference in Mia’s life and allowing her to grow up in a city where she knows everyone did what they can to make hers and her parents’ lives a bit easier.
Donations can be made to the Special Assistance Fund, BSB 633 000, account number 155181498 and reference Mia’s Big Adventure.
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