DAY OF FUN TO REMEMBER ARCHIE
IF little Archie could be at the fundraiser established in his honour, his loved ones say he would be running around giving everyone “cuddles”.
Seven-year-old Archie died in February 2020, after a boating tragedy at Orford, leaving his parents Damien and Hayley Green devastated.
However, the Lauderdale family raised more than $112,000 for the Royal Hobart Hospital’s neonatal and paediatric intensive care unit last year with a family fun day dubbed Archie’s 100.
The ticketed event brings people together to celebrate Archie’s birthday on August 8 and participate in 100 minutes of physical activity, before relaxing with some family fun.
It also helps raise awareness of the importance of donating blood and registering to become an organ donor, since Archie donated his organs and saved five lives in ultimate “superhero” fashion.
While a day early, the birthday fundraiser got under way for the second year in a row on Sunday. Jay and Wendy Brain, Archie’s uncle and aunt, said the family fun day was a “celebration of Archie’s life”.
“We miss him. We love him. We just want to be there for him and this is how we can do that,” Mrs Brain said.
“It’s great to see all these people that don’t necessarily know the family (like) we do … still come to celebrate and show their support.”
Mrs Brain said if Archie was at the family fun day, his first port of call would most likely be the laser tag.
But that did not mean he would not make time for other activities.
“He would just go and cuddle everyone, that’s what he would do,” she said.
“He was the best cuddler.
“He was a little social fella, so he would be around seeing everyone,” Mr Brain added.