Each month Variety receives requests for over $200,000 for equipment to help a sick, disabled or disadvantaged child, which is often expensive and beyond the affordability of thousands of families.
Every dollar appealed to families and children goes a long way to improving their lives and often in ways many people take for granted.
Read some of the touching and often unseen and unheard responses from Variety Queensland appealants.
This is your dollar at work...
Mckenzie is a bright 3 year old with Cerebral Palsy. Variety helped Mackensie and her family with a new Quickie Zippie Iris wheelchair.
Email from Mckenzie's mum, Sheryl
"I would like to Thank You so very much for approving the funding for the gap payment for McKenzie's much needed wheelchair. Life for McKenzie has now changed as she can access the community much better, and is stable in seating for active play and function. We are so very grateful as without your help we would not be able to provide Mckenzie the mobility aid she needs.
Thank You so much again for giving McKenzie the opportunity to have a better quality of life.
Thanks again."
Ruby is 4 years old and has been diagnosed with Rett Syndrome. Variety purchased Ruby and her family a Jenx Prine Stander at a cost of $4,760.
Email from Ruby's Mum, Annabelle
"So when I went to the letterbox and found the letter confirming funding I bawled my eyes out! As a single parent it gets very scary trying to get your head around how you're going to give your gorgeous girl everything she needs. Because she doesn't walk I don't have to buy her shoes or pay for ballet lessons, but we are up for literally thousands in equipment. This year alone a buggy ($7401) and an in home hydraulic seating system ($8616). So to have your help with the stander is so amazing.
Thanks again."
Leah is 8 years old suffers from Bone Fusion. Variety installed a chair lift in Leah's home at a cost of $6,700.
Email from Leah's Mum, Lyn
"The chair lift has been working out so well for us with Leah in the Halo. It is nice not to have to worry about her mobility around our own home, with living in a two story house. We appreciate Variety's help immensely.
Thank-you so much."
Matilda is 2 years old and has Cerebral Palsy. At a cost of $6,500 Variety purchased a specialised supportive buggy stroller for Matilda.
Email from Matilda's Mum, Angie
"A huge thank you to Variety QLD for the kind purchase of Matilda's new supportive stroller. It supports Matilda so she can sit in an upright position whereas before with other prams Matilda would just slump over to one side and not enjoy her time in a pram. Now we can get out and about with huge success and Matilda just loves her new wheels. Specialised equipment costs thousands of dollars - money that some family's just don't have so we sincerely thank Variety for caring for our kids and putting a huge simile on a little girls face"
Ipswich Special School's students experience intellectual and physical impairments. Variety provided the year 10 students with an educational camp.
Email from Andrew, Ipswich Special School Deputy Principal
"Thanks to Variety Queensland, teachers at Ipswich Special School we were able to organise a fun, adventurous camp for our students that rely on the use of powered wheelchairs. For many students, this was the first time they had spent a night away from home. One of the highlights was our visit to the beach! This wonderful camp wouldn't have been possible without the kind funding and support from Variety Queensland"
Variety purchased a 21 seater bus, modified to accommodate 3 wheelchairs for the Townsville Community Learning Centre at a cost of $133,937.55*
Email from Kyla, Townsville Community Learning Centre
"I really appreciate the effort that you and your fellow Variety champions have done for our school. I drove a class on excursion today in the new bus. They were so excited that I let them ride first in the bus. The bus will make a huge difference to our students so thank you again"
*with contributions from and the E Robert Hayles & Alison L Hayles Charitable Trust & the Russell McKimmin Charitable Trust, managed by Perpetual
Thanks to Variety Narbethong Special School students are now able to play, interact and learn from each other in their new playground.
Email from Catherine, Narbethong Special School Principal
"Thanks to Variety Qld the students at Narbethong Special School have a wonderful new playground. All the students who attend Narbethong are vision impaired or blind. Students in the school age program also have additional disabilities. The playground was designed to enable all students, mobile and wheelchair bound, to be able to access the playground.
The students have thoroughly enjoyed exploring their new playground. The school community is most grateful to Variety Qld for assisting us to build such a great playground for our students"
Watch just how incredible and needed the support is that Variety gives to the special kids of Queensland. Without you, we cannot empower these special children...
Whilst a dollar figure can be put on funding of equipment and services, the experiences and enrichment afforded to each child and family assisted by Variety is invaluable.
Every month Variety Queensland is unable to fulfill each appeal request because we simply do not have enough funds. Help Variety help Queensland children who are sick, disadvantaged or have special needs.