Country women dig deep for appeal
Costs involved in treating a fiveyear-old girl living with a rare disease have provided Country Women’s Association volunteers with a major incentive to raise money for the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal.
Taylor Tenebel, from Ascot Vale, with family connections to the Wimmera-mallee, suffers from a condition called juvenile dermatomyositis, an autoimmune inflammatory disease of the muscles, skin and blood vessels.
The disease leads to symptoms including weakness in the largest muscles around the neck, shoulders and hips, resulting in patients struggling to climb stairs, get up from a chair or even brush their hair.
People can also develop a rash or skin changes ranging from mild redness to severe ulceration.
Taylor’s plight captured the attention of Horsham CWA branch through her grandmother Jennie Mitchell of Haven, originally from Beulah, and a relatively new Horsham member.
As a result CWA Horsham members have been making and selling craft flowers and other items as part of a fundraising campaign for the appeal.
CWA Beulah branch is also involved in the project and organised activities.
Mrs Mitchell said Taylor had also taken charge of her own fundraising campaign through a Turbo Taylor team and had already raised about $2500.
“She was selling the flowers at her school, her community, her mum’s workplace and pre-school, but run out after a week,” she said.
“We just kept sending them down to her. She’s doing well at the moment and even organised a 40-kilometre fundraising walk in Melbourne.”
Inflammation
Juvenile dermatomyositis affects about three in one million children a year.
In simple terms, the body’s immune system believes Taylor’s muscles are foreign objects like a common cold or infection, and attacks them.
Treatment is based on minimising inflammation and Taylor has undergone extensive and expensive specialist drug treatment, a costly exercise especially for Royal Children’s Hospital.
Doctors have advised she will continue treatment for at least two years, in hope of getting her into remission.
Horsham CWA branch members have made more than 200 flowers and quickly sold of half of them.
They hope to have more for people to buy at various shopping locations including Maria da Ros Fashions, Forty Winks, Horsham Family Footwear and Ace Radio’s Horsham office for gold-coin donations.
Members are also raising money by selling embroidered teddy bears, beaded bookmarks and hexagon paper boxes.
People seeking more information can call Bev Shalders on 0427 811 081 or 5381 1081 or Jennie Mitchell on 0427 990 598.
“She’s doing well at the moment and even organised a 40-kilometre fundraising walk in Melbourne”
– Jennie Mitchell