By TANIA PHILLIPS
Pic: Helping hand for local family.
A YEAR-LONG fund-raising quest by the Lions Club of Terranora had a happy ending on Saturday when the club presented a special purpose vehicle to a Tweed family.
Lions club president Patricia Cummins said the club decided to help the Martin family after receiving a letter last year.
“In March 2012, the Lions Club of Terranora Lakes received a letter of desperation from Peter and Sheral Martin, the parents of 13-year-old son Cadel, who was suffering from an extremely rare genetic condition,” she said.
“Cadel was born with this condition which includes; brain malformation, seizures, vision impairment and accelerated growth. At 13 years, he was already 170 cm tall and 80 kg.
He is completely wheelchair-bound and requires 24/7 personal care. His parents were desperate to maintain mobility for Cadel, both for everyday medical care involving life-threatening regular seizures and specialists visits, plus weekly attendance at a local special school.
“Their need was for a special purpose wheelchair accessible vehicle to maintain mobility for Cadel and the family at an approximate cost of $50,000, which was beyond their means.”
She said the club accepted the challenge as a community service project with Lion Don McHenry taking on the role of project chairman.
“It has taken more than 12 months but we have now donated this vehicle to the Martin family on behalf of the Lions Club and the Tweed community,” Patricia said.
Don McHenry said the club had received a lot of help along the way.
“The Lions Club of Terranora Lakes made an initial donation of $15,000 which was matched by an equal grant from the Australian Lions Foundation,” he said.“With the assistance of Fiona Holland from Tweed Shire Community Options, we set out to raise the funds required. A heavily discounted VW Caddy Maxi was provided by Tweed European, South Tweed Heads and this vehicle was converted to wheelchair access by K&M Kite, Arundel.
“Further financial support was also generously provided by “Kids In Need”, Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre, Tweed Shire Community Options, Kingscliff Lions Club and Tweed Heads South Rotary Club as well as public donations and a contribution by Cadel’s parents, Peter and Sheral.”
“This is definitely an encouraging example of what can be achieved when the local Lions club, together with other community service organisations, charities and our local government get together to make magic happen and we hope that it will make life a little easier for Cadel and his family.”
