William McLeary, Lucas Bentick and Mollie Demamiel order their lunch during canteen week.
The Forbes community is again rallying to ‘support its own’ with funds raised for Ronald McDonald House and a highly successful blood donation campaign last week.
Forbes Preschool’s community jumped into action to support the family of Andrew and Rebecca Pengilly after their son Robert was diagnosed with leukaemia on his third birthday.
During Forbes Preschool’s Canteen Week the children enjoyed a warm cooked lunch, just like at big school, and parents received a break from packing a lunch box.
An extra bonus this time is all the money raised was matched by the preschool, and was donated to Ronald McDonald Westmead, where the Pengilly’s will stay during the months of Robert’s treatment.
“Everyone wants to help so we hoped this was one way a lot of families could pitch in to help out one of our much-loved families. We will be planning more events throughout the year as well,” Preschool Director Amy Shine said.
“We’re blown away to learn that the Forbes Preschool community has raised $3,500 in support of families with a seriously ill or injured child, staying at Ronald McDonald House Westmead,” Belinda Woolford, CEO Ronald McDonald House Charities Greater Western Sydney said.
“These funds are a huge help and will support 20 nights’ accommodation for a family with a sick child. Thanks to generous communities like Forbes, over 2,000 families are provided with a home-away-from-home each year. Thank you all!” she added.
Last week, close family friend Ashleigh Dent also organised a successful blood drive for the ‘Red Cells for Robert’ group to support Robert who will have to receive many blood products during his treatment.
In fact, last week’s blood drive was so successful, Lifeblood Australia agreed to spending an extra day in Forbes because so many people volunteered to donate to ‘Red Cells for Robert’.
More than 50 people donated to the group and will continue to donate. You can still donate blood at any Lifeblood clinic and help-out, just ask to join the Lifeblood Red 25 team Red Cells for Robert.
If you cannot donate blood but would like to help, you can contribute to the Ronald McDonald Fundraiser being run through Red Cells for Robert campaign on Facebook, it has currently raised $4500.
Rebecca Pengilly has thanked everyone in the Forbes community for their “kindness, love and support.”
“There have been moments of pain, grief, anger and fear but there have also been moments of pride, love, joy and happiness,” Rebecca said.