IT’S A JOLLY OLLIE-DAY
IT’S a big day for Curlewis four-year-old Ollie Wedding. The face of this year’s Good Friday Appeal will spend today attending events and raising awareness of some of the Royal Children’s Hospital’s amazing stories such as Lucy Baran, (inset), who has been a patient since she was just two weeks old.
AS the face of this year’s Good Friday Appeal, little Ollie Wedding is in for a big day.
The Curlewis four-year-old is set to make the rounds today, visiting key events including the Kids’ Day Out at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre.
Ollie will also be taking his ambassadorial duties to the Kick for the Kids AFL match between Essendon and North Melbourne, which is supporting the Good Friday Appeal.
“He’s really excited,” Mum Meg said.
“He’s started to understand it’s a big thing.”
And when his parents yesterday asked him what was coming up today, with a big smile, Ollie proudly announced “the Good Friday Appeal”.
The lively youngster was born with the rare condition fibular hemimelia.
His right leg was missing its fibula, had only two toes and an ankle structure that was not fully formed.
His family started attending appointments at the Royal Children’s Hospital to see the limb difference clinic and a team of five specialists.
The lower part of the leg was amputated when he was 18 months old, and he was fitted with a prosthetic leg.
As he grows, new legs will be made for everyday use and sporting activities.
For his family, Ollie’s role as the face of the appeal has been a fantastic opportunity to give back to the hospital that has played a huge role in their lives.
“It’s really nice to give something back, we’ve been on this journey since gestation,” Ollie’s Dad, Andrew, said.
“We met the team at the Royal Children’s Hospital when he was just a couple of weeks old.
“For us to be able to give something back is pretty awesome.”
HE’S REALLY EXCITED. HE’S STARTED TO UNDERSTAND IT’S A BIG THING. MUM MEG WEDDING