Helping hand … Lions Club president James Williams, right, presents a cheque for $3000 to Julieanne Bugeja and Chris Kotsopoulos, parents of baby Alyssa. Picture supplied.By Allon Lee
WESTVALE Community Centre’s open days last weekend raised thousands of dollars for St Albans baby Alyssa Kotsopoulos who suffers from spinal muscular atrophy.
Westvale Community Centre president Robert Mammarella said around 1000 people passed through the centre on Saturday and Sundayto enjoy the entertainment, auction and jumble sale.
The Lions Club presented Alyssa’s parents, Julieanne Bugeja and Chris Kotsopoulos, with a cheque for $3000.
Ms Bugeja and Mr Kotsopoulos need to raise money to pay off a US$244,000 hospital bill for recent treatment in the USA.
Lions Club president James Williams said his organisation has committed a further $2000 to establish the Alyssa K Foundation.
“This will be a foundation that will aim to undertake research into spinal muscular atrophy whilst also working towards establishing a support group for families of spinal muscular atrophy sufferers,” Mr Williams said.
A jumble sale organised by Alyssa’s family raised $1700 but at time of going to press money raised from an auction held on the Sunday by the centre had not been tallied.
Mr Mammarella said he was very pleased with the community spirit shown by participants on the day and visitors to the centre.
“I am delighted that it was a success and want to thank everybody who helped out for such a good cause,” Mr Mammarella told Star.
“I also want to thank police community liaison officer John Reader for his efforts, the bands, the entertainers who provided free entertainment and the volunteers who helped out on the day.
“The focus was to raise funds for baby Alyssa and I think we did that,” he said.
Ms Bugeja said Alyssa was still on a ventilator in intensive care at the Royal Children’s Hospital. She is in a stable condition.
