The Glen Innes community and beyond are getting behind the Gill and Grob families after being rocked by the news that five-year-old Tommy Gill and two-year-old Josie Grob were both diagnosed with leukaemia withing two weeks of each other. The two families are now neighbours at Ronald McDonald House alongside John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle as the two little ones are treated for the disease.
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“I’ve just been blown away by how supportive Glen Innes is,” Tommy’s mum Sam said.
“I’m not good with words but it’s just overwhelming. I’m really thankful for the support of the Glen Innes community, and it’s wonderful to feel supported while we’re down here.
“It’s making this journey a little easier.”
While the families are fortunate to have a home at Ronald McDonald House there are still bills to pay. In Tommy’s case the treatment will extend for another 3.5 years, putting additional financial burden on the family.
Mrs Gill’s sister Elizabeth Campbell is thankful the families have access to a facility like Ronald McDonald House.
“You hear of these amazing places, but don’t realise how much they help when you’re in a situation like this.”
Chocolate drive
People will be seeing lots of chocolate drive fundraising boxes at business around town after the sisters’ cousin in Armidale offered to set up the facilities after its success in helping a family down there. Mrs Campbell said she didn’t know here to start, but she asked a few local businesses if they could help and has been bowled over by the response.
“Heaps of more people are contact me saying ‘drop a box down here’,” she said.
Go Fund Me pages
Mrs Gill’s employer Felicity English of Red Chair Hair Gallery set up a Go Fund Me page for Tommy a month ago, which has raised $10,820 of its $30,000 goal at the time of writing. Josie’s Go Fund Me page was set up by her dad Brendan’s boss Aaron Potter of Savco Vegetation Services, and has raised $5440 of its $30,000 goal.
Wood raffles
The Savco boys and helpers have been out cutting wood and are planning monthly wood raffles for the foreseeable future, with the first one raising more than $1600.
Mr Potter said there’s enough ironbark and stringybark now stockpiled for the next 10 raffles, with each big mixed trailer load filled with around half of each type. Volunteers will be outside Woolworths selling tickets in the raffles, with the next one scheduled for the weekend of June 17/18.
“And it’s for a great cause,” Mr Potter said.
Lioness Club trivia night
The Lionesses are hosting a trivia night at the Glen Innes and District Services Club on August 19. Lioness Kay Arthur’s son Justin will be travelling from Brisbane to handle quiz master duties after forging an envirable reputation in the role.
“He does a brilliant job,” Lioness Carolyn McLelland said.
The proposed theme is old television shows and movies, so there’s time to start studying.
More in the planning
See separate stories on the Bowling Club’s Family FUNdraising Day and the Glen Innes Motor Sports Club’s ‘fox’ hunt.
“We’ve been shocked by all the support,” Mrs Campbell said.
“Everybody has been so incredibly kind.”
