Members of the Sunshine and Western Region Sports Club are a generous bunch, says committee member Phil Cartledge.
Each month the members and their guests meet to select the recipient of the Don Deeble Rising Star Award, a $1000 grant handed to young adults in the western suburbs who have achieved outstanding sporting results at a state and national level.
At each meeting, a bucket is handed around to collect donations large and small that will go to helping children.
Recently the club hit its $10,000 fundraising target and gave the money to Sunshine Hospital’s rehabilitation program for children.
“Every time we raise money we support children,” Mr Cartledge says.
The hospital’s physiotherapy manager, Melina Shackell, couldn’t be more thankful. Using the funds, her department was able to purchase an exercise bike, a Jenx chair and some iPads.
“The exercise bike will be used by older children with orthopaedic injuries and the Jenx chair for very small babies and children who need a lot of support to develop,” she said.
“This [donation] is extremely important. In the public health system funds are tight, so it’s great to be able to purchase equipment we might not otherwise be able to afford.”
Alexandra Laskie
