By NATALIE GALLENTI
THE Melton community has rallied behind a grieving family and raised much needed funds for the Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation.
Ajay’s Pizzeria hosted the fund-raising event, which grew from very humble beginnings to something “bigger than Ben-Hur” according to many locals.
A host of entertainers were on hand and the silent auction was a roaring success.
Ajay’s Pizzeria was launched last year in memory of Ajay Psaila, who died after a tragic accident.
The eight-year-old spent a week in the Intensive Care Unit at the Royal Children’s Hospital before he passed away.
Close family friend and Ajay’s Pizzeria staff member Colleen Downie told Star the fund-raiser had bought the community together in a way that was completely unexpected.
Ms Downie, whose children went to school with Ajay, said local businesses had made sizeable donations and residents were doing anything they could to help.
“We were aiming to raise $1500, but we already have $600 just from people donating money,” she said in the days leading up to the event.
Ms Downie said the event had helped the family, in particular Ajay’s mother Mary, to focus on something positive and they were keen to raise as much money for the hospital as possible.
The final tally of funds raised will be known in the coming weeks.
