Making waves to help sick kids

ON AIR- Alison Fyfe of River 94.9 interviews little Hayley and her mum Rebecca Larrigan for the Variety Appeal.

Queensland Times

HELPING sick and disabled children one broadcast at a time, the inaugural River 94.9 Variety Appeal will hit the air waves this Friday.

With the support of Ipswich Council, Channel Nine and The Queensland Times, the River 94.9 Variety Appeal will benefit needy local children like five-year-old Hayley.

The tiny girl was born with a rare congenital disorder called moebius syndrome, leaving her without a left forearm, part of her fingers on her right hand and jaw joints.

Friday's appeal aims to raise enough funds to provide the Ipswich Special School prep student with a wheelchair and a communicator.

Mum Rebecca Larrigan said the equipment would give Hayley more mobility at school, and would also mean a “big financial burden was lifted” off the family.

“The wheelchair will mean Hayley has her own transport and will be able to get around by herself,” Ms Larrigan said.

“The communicator board will mean she will finally be able to communicate with us.

“At the moment we rely on her expression and tone to gauge what she wants.”

The Bellbird Park mother-of-three said it was hard to put into words how much the equipment would mean to the family.

“The hardest thing having a child like Hayley is the stress with having to come up with the equipment she needs,” Ms Larrigan said.

“It is not like (getting her) a toy she wants.” River 94.9 general manager David Greenwood said through the appeal, locals would help the children's charity meet the needs of local sick, disabled or disadvantaged children.

“We know Variety have helped make a difference to the lives of a lot of local children in the past but they have urgent requests for help every month. Variety Friday is a great way the community and River 94.9 can work together and provide life-changing equipment,” Mr Greenwood said.

• To donate, contact Variety on 3367 6999 or visit www.varietyqld.org.au.