Campaigns that touched hearts
Community donated thousands
GOFUNDME campaigns launched in the Toowoomba region helped a horse viciously attacked by dogs, a baby with a malfunctioning pituitary gland, a dying father who wanted to help pay for his son’s medical bills and the family of a new dad who fell into a coma after being run down.
The giving nature of the people who offered to help with their own money changed and may have even saved lives.
To acknowledge this, The Chronicle has compiled a list of some of the fundraising campaigns that touched the hearts of the community.
Clementine the miniature pony mauled
Highfields Pioneer Village
A mystery donor just last week put up $20,000 to help the Highfields Pioneer Village keep its animals safe after its miniature pony Clementine was mauled, taking its total to $25,000.
The fundraiser began after Highfields Pioneer Village’s miniature pony Clementine and her friend Charlie the Clydesdale were mauled by two escaped dogs on the morning of Monday, November 5.
“Clementine and the Pioneer Village need our help to prevent this from ever happening again,” volunteer Bradley Newton said.
Father and son’s inspiring fight for life
Corrie Mischlewski may only have had weeks to live, but his priority was the life of his son.
Despite going through an intense round of chemotherapy, Mr Mischlewski’s wish is to ensure his son Lachlan Barclay gets the overseas treatment he needs for multiple sclerosis.
Mr Mischlewski’s efforts to get his son treatment in Russia or Sweden raised over $6000.
Violent home invasion
In August, an elderly couple was threatened with a knife in a terrifying home invasion.
The man, it was revealed, had terminal cancer and friends launched a GoFundMe campaign to help them in the wake of the ordeal.
Raising over $3000, the community helped install security screens, CCTV and other measures to help the couple return to a normal life at home.
Murphys Creek crash
A Toowoomba woman was forced to not only come to terms with the fact that she might never walk again, but also having to process the loss of her unborn baby after a horror car crash in Murphy’s Creek.
Ellie Dunn was involved in a serious traffic crash at the corner of Murphy’s Creek Road and Watts Road on July 6, when the car she was driving hit a tree about 3pm.
She was trapped in the car for about five hours and was airlifted to Brisbane in a critical condition. Her friends and family rallied to the tune of $8000.
Dad run down outside home
Just two weeks after welcoming son Hudson into the world, Kenneth Allan was struck by a car while standing outside his Lockyer Valley home.
It was Anzac Day this year when about 9.10pm the 30year-old was hit on Koreelah St at Upper Lockyer.
He suffered serious head injuries, two broken legs, a broken arm and fractures to his ribs and face. He has been in a coma at Princess Alexandra Hospital ever since.
Community fundraising efforts from across the Darling Downs and Lockyer Valley raised $4835 for the young family.
Harvey’s medical bills
A 22-year-old Toowoomba woman gives her son steroids, growth hormones and thyroid medication to compensate for Harvey’s malfunctioning pituitary gland, a condition only picked up after he turned yellow and stopped putting on weight.
Harvey also needs his heels pricked twice a day to monitor his blood sugar levels.
Despite the agonising routine, Ms Prior said she and her partner Conor Swinton have been overwhelmed by support from loved ones and strangers, who donated nearly $5000 as part of the GoFundMe campaign towards Harvey’s care.