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» The Causes |
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 The Great Bike Ride Presented by the City of Perth is hosted by the Rotary Club of Perth to raise funds for the Heart Foundation, St John of God Foundation Horizon House Project and Hope for the Children. Click on the headlines below to find out more about the good work that these worthy charities undertake.
Heart foundation
St John of God Foundation
Hope for the Children
Heart Foundation
Investment in heart disease research saved my son’s life
 Cardiovascular disease remains so common that all of us can expect to be affected somehow by it sooner or later. For the O’Gradys, that day came when their seemingly healthy little son was diagnosed with a heart murmur.
“When we heard about the murmur we felt concerned. But we couldn’t have imagined our baby might be desperately ill. So it was just a terrible, terrible shock to find out later that there were actually five holes in his heart and that he could die at any moment,” Matt O’Grady said.
Their son Ayrton was found to have a type of congenital heart defect known as Tetralogy of Fallot, a condition characterised by a whole host of life-threatening problems. In Ayrton’s case, doctors discovered that one of his arteries was positioned on the wrong side of the heart – and that he was only alive because five holes in the walls of his heart allowed his blood to pass across into the correct chambers.
“The doctors told us that even a major tantrum could put enough extra pressure on Ayrton’s heart to kill him. They took him into intensive care and within a week he was in the operating theatre, undergoing surgery we knew he might not survive. The most upsetting thing was not knowing what our boy was going through as we waited outside,” Matt said.
“The surgeons were reconstructing Ayrton’s heart. Using incredible skill, they were able to successfully realign his main artery and close the five holes in his heart.
“There was this moment, when the door opened, and I knew there would either be the best or the worst news I’d ever received. When I saw the surgeon’s smiling face, I broke down. I knew that our little boy had made it.
“Having my baby back in my arms again was the best feeling in my life. They did such a good job on him, four years on you wouldn’t know he’d ever been ill without the little scar on his chest. He asks us about that scar every now and then – we explain what happened and what a lucky boy he is. We tell him that girls like scars, and that always cheers him up!”
It’s sobering to remember that the procedure that returned Ayrton to his parents’ grateful arms has not always been available and that research in this area had made it possible for these operations to be completed successfully.
Investment in research saved Ayrton’s life.
“I’ve had parents come up to me whose own babies had the same condition as Ayrton, but didn’t make it because they were born eight or ten years ago. It makes you realise how lucky we were,” Matt said.
“If Ayrton had been born a few years earlier, I don’t think we would be sitting here now on our back deck with our son jumping on the trampoline.”
Matt knows that it was investment in research that saved his son’s life. That’s why he does what he can to support the Heart Foundation and encourage others to help fundraise for more research into heard disease.
For further information go to www.heartfoundation.org.au or phone 1300 36 27 87.
Trisha Langridge - Having the right information saved my life
 Each day 30 Australian women die from heart disease. As Australia’s leading non-government organisation in the fight against heart disease, the Heart Foundation’s role is crucial.
“Through the Heart foundation’s continuation of lifesaving research, education and health promotion, other families do not have to experience what I have,” heart attack survivor Trisha said.
“Once you have been affected by heart disease you realise how many people are suffering and how important it really is to take preventative steps. Two top cardiologists told me I was really, really lucky to survive. I’ve basically been given a second chance at life.
“I had chest pain briefly after playing a game of netball with my students. The pain went to my back and down my arm. I did not think I was having a heart attack – it was the furthest thing from my mind. I thought this only happens to older people.”
Trisha knows how lucky se was that a quick-thinking colleague called an ambulance because she recognised the symptoms of a heart attach. With the right information, even more lives can be saved.
Trisha’s daughter Carley said: “Mum’s attack was the last thing I expected. We were both very healthy and I was always encouraged to play sports. I never considered her to be at risk. It was horrible seeing her looking so sick and frail in hospital after the attack. It is something I wouldn’t wish upon anyone.”
For further information go to www.heartfoundation.org.au or phone 1300 36 27 87.
St John of God Foundation
Horizon House Project - Charity Background
 On any given night in Australia there are over 32,000 young people aged 12-24 years that are homeless - this number makes up over a third of the total recorded number of homeless people in Australia. In Western Australia alone there are over 3,000 young people who are homeless on any given night. These young people do not choose to be homeless.
Consistent data has shown that support and accommodation services for people who are homeless do not have the capacity to meet demand. Less than one-fifth of young people who are homeless in Australia are receiving support and accommodation from these services. For the small minority that are fortunate enough to receive assistance they are finding that due to the pressure of numbers and expectation to move on to independent living within three months there is little or insufficient time for the resolution of their long-term issues.
The Horizon House Project aims to provide young people aged 16-22 years, who would otherwise be homeless, with a twenty four hour family envrionment; supported by permanent live-in carers, education and training opportunities, intensive life and social skills so that they can ultimately become tomorrow’s community leaders.
Our primary outcomes:
- Outcome 1: To provide long-term accommodation in a family home together with love, nurturing and family life that is every child’s right.
- Outcome 2: To enable young people to realise their aspirations and potential with the outcome being their eventual re-integration back into mainstream society.
- Outcome 3: To educate and involve the community to take responsibility for our young people at risk.
- Outcome 4: To promote collaboration in the youth and community sector.
- Outcome 5: To establish a secure financial base for the ongoing operation of the houses.
Your support has and continues to help all of our young people to make a difference in their lives and rise from seemingly impossible situations. Here are two examples of what your support is directed towards and how the lives of the young people that we support have changed for the better.
- Young Person Seeks New Horizons
First Steps
 Vaughn started with the Horizon House Program in July 2006 when Bendat House Geraldton was first opened. As a shy, lonely and unconfident 17 year old coming from a difficult family scenario fraught with transience and irregularity; Vaughn immediately started to shine through the structure and support provided by our devoted Geraldton Carers.
Within the first months of joining the program Vaughn was enrolled in TAFE and started studying Information Technology. He also took up a part time job to assist with TAFE fee payments and went from being a withdrawn individual to developing positive social connections.
The Progression
After just 6 months within the program it was evident that Vaughn had grown to become a different person, taking great pride in his appearance and making an effort to support other young people within the program, Vaughn began to be seen as the house leader; taking on extra chores and abiding by the house rules. Through the assistance of our house psychologist he also began rebuilding his troubled relationship with his parents and was even drawing encouraging comments from his TAFE teachers.
An Exciting Opportunity
In early 2007 Vaughn was nominated to attend a one week youth adventure camp focused on team building and increasing self confidence. The camp, based just past Harvey in Western Australia’s South West region, consisted of a 12km hike, raft building, a low ropes course and abseiling. Working along with 16 other young people Vaughn learnt the importance of leadership and team work. He was even able to overcome a fear of heights by attempting abseiling for the first time.
One young person was then chosen from the group to attend a ten week expedition in late 2007 run through Raleigh International in Borneo, Malaysia. This young person was Vaughn!! The ten week expedition to Borneo involved 150 young people of different nationalities combining their efforts to not only work on community and environmental projects, but to achieve personal development and learn lifelong skills.
A Life Changing Experience
The expedition to Borneo consisted of three phases: phase one, ‘Community’ located in Ambong where the young people made a gravity water system; phase two, ‘Environment’ located in Daham Valley where the young people assisted the rangers to clear and tidy the forest area and finally; phase three, ‘Adventure” for this part of the camp the young people completed an 8 day trek in Long Pasia, climbed Mount Kinabalu and were accredited with an open diving certificate!!
On reflection of his trip Vaughn was particularly impressed by the local young people in Boreno who were trained at a very young age to handle tough and dangerous situations such as hunting and swimming without any physical support. The biggest challenge Vaughn found was the Adventure phase of the trip having only recently overcome his fear of heights, but after conquering Mount Kinabalu we all think he is unstoppable in achieving whatever he sets his mind to. Vaughn now aspires to return to the Raleigh International Program in four years, when he meets the minimum age criteria, as a camp leader.
The End of the Road
After returning from his intensive experience in Borneo and making some lifelong connections as well as new skills Vaughn set to work catching up on his TAFE study. By early 2008 Vaughn began to sense that he had gained all the skills he required from the Horizon House Project to move on into independent living.
In April 2008 after finding a suitable independent living arrangement Vaughn packed up all of his belongings and moved on into the next chapter of his life. Having seen Vaughn from the early days of our Geraldton house it was particularly moving for our Carers to see the progress that he had made. We still hear from Vaughn and he continues to do very well in all aspects of his life.
This is only one young person’s story; there are many others that your support has made a difference for. We leave you with some words to think about... “One hundred years from now it won’t matter how much money I had, the sort of house I lived in or the kind of car I drove. The world may be different because I was important in the life of a young person” Anon.
- From the Heart...
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Dear Foundation
My name is Jessica* and I live in Bendat House. I was homeless until 9 months ago. Ever since then my life has changed dramatically.
I am now completing Certificate II in General Education for Adults and have a main goal in life that is to become a journalist and maybe one day run a magazine, newspaper or newsletter. I want to help people by what I write. I want to let other homeless youth know that there can be a light at the end of the tunnel.
I wish to make a difference to peoples lives, even if it is only one person, it makes a difference and shows other adolescents that life can get better even if it takes a while. I don’t want to forget where I have been or what I have been through because now I want to rejoice about what I have and the accomplishments I have made through the two years that my life has been down hill.
I now have prospects that I never thought I would have. I believe that I can be a writer and that I am capable of becoming a journalist and in the near future go to university.
My self worth plummeted after I became homeless but now after being here for 9 months and receiving the love and care from our Carers and the other kids I am slowly building a good relationship with my natural family and I am now proud to have gone through what I did and say ‘I MADE IT’! I have now reached heights I never dreamed I could.
I will never be able to show you the gratitude and respect I have the St John of God Foundation Horizon House Project, but hope that this will somehow show you that I feel so indebted to you all for giving me this life changing opportunity.
Yours thankfully
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Jessica was awarded a scholarship through Notre Dame University and went on to study journalism, making her lifelong dream a reality.
Hope for Children
Ermias Gift
 Ermias celebrated his 7th birthday 6 months late this year. His mother didn’t think he was going to live and he was too sick for any kind of celebration in December 2007.
May 2008 was a different story as you can see by this picture of Ermias at his 7th birthday party.
Ermias was born with 2 “pelvic kidneys” that didn’t drain properly. This rare condition was combined with 2 deadly obstructed ureters, resulting in 7 years of kidney infections, chronic pain and resultant malnutrition. In October 2008, when Sara Franklyn and Veronica Culllity, Hope for Children volunteers from Perth, visited Ermias, it was generally accepted he was terminally ill. Unwilling to accept this fate, Hope for Children contacted surgeons in Perth to see if there was something that could be done.
Paediatric Urologist, Andrew Barker, bravely accepted the challenge of operating on Ermias with very little forward briefing information. Ermias had an abdomen that looked like a patchwork quilt; it had been dissected on several occasions, once without an anaesethetic.
He had 2 bags protruding directly out of his stomach, providing drainage to the struggling kidneys. One bag was accidentally pulled out in November, leaving one kidney very bloated, with no adequate means of drainage.
Three tense months followed while Kristin White in Ethiopia and Sara Franklyn in Perth struggled to obtain an emergency medical visa for Ermias. On February 16th it arrived. On February 17th, Ermias left Addis Ababa, fortuitously accompanied by Alexandra Readhead (who was one of his “Foranji” favourites) arriving in Perth to a crowd of welcoming strangers. Ermias then underwent 2 weeks of extensive radiological and pathological testing, prior to surgery on 2 March 2008. SKG Radiology, St Johns
Pathology and St John of God Hospital, and the doctors and nurses involved in
Ermias’s care, all provided their services free of charge, while fundraising proceeds from 2007 The Great Bike Ride Presented by the City of Perth helped fund Ermias’s travel expenses.
Constantly followed by Channel 9 news, Ermias made a remarkable recovery and was fit enough to attend St Kierin’s Pre-Primary in Tuart Hill for a few weeks following the surgery. While at school Ermias enjoyed living with the Harrison family, who have an adopted 5 year old, Solomon. He quickly became part of the family, holidaying in the Southwest, catching fish and experiencing many ocean activities for the first time. Ermias’s sponsors, Andrew King and his two boys, were lucky enough to meet and connect with their sponsored child. The local Ethiopian community also embraced Ermias and his social calendar became quite hectic. After 3 months, with his visa due to expire and his recovery complete, Sara Franklyn accompanied Ermias back to Addis Ababa.
 While in Perth, Ermias had become conversant in English and thrived on the education he had previously been denied through illness. Arriving to a throng of well-wishers, everyone was surprised to hear him only speak English; he was refusing/unable to speak Amharic! His mother, who is only Amharic speaking, was happy to report that within days he was back to normal.
Ermias was welcomed home with many celebrations - from the Kindy children to the graduating Scouts and the entire HFC office staff. Even though Ermias has been thrust back into his normal life everything is different for both him and the people who cared for him. His eyes have been opened to life in the affluent world and our eyes to the difficulties of his world. Ermias’s gift to everyone at Hope for Children is the reminder that miracles do sometimes happen. When everyone has given up hope, it is not always hopeless.
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On behalf of Jacqui Gilmour and everyone at Hope for Children we would like to say a few words to the entire team of supporters who have touched many lives through this experience. You have trusted the instincts of your heart and gut and smiled in the face of pressure. All of you have been courageous.
Courage is finding the inner strength and bravery required when confronting danger, difficulty or opposition. Courage is the energy current behind all great actions and the spark that ignites the initial baby steps of growth. It resides deep within each of us, ready to be accessed in those moments when you need to forge ahead or break through seemingly insurmountable barriers.
It is the intangible force that propels you forward on your journey. Go forward and be passionate about life and what you believe in and thank you for your ongoing support.
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We are currently planning and raising funds for some exciting new projects that we want to tell you about.
BUILDING A COMMUNITY SCHOOL
In 2008 we plan to commence building a community school in Addis
Ababa. Our school will educate poor, high potential children using Western and Ethiopian best practices to enable them to grow into self-sufficient adults who will become the future leaders of their community and country. The school will actively involve parents and the wider community in the education of the children and provide a positive model for Ethiopian teachers and parents on how to best educate children without using violence and abuse. The school will also be used to run programs to benefit the wider community, such as classes in adult literacy, basic business, sexual health and parenting skills.
THE YOUTH RESTAURANT AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING
With youth unemployment around 67%, one of the biggest challenges for young disadvantaged Ethiopians is finding safe employment. We have identified the emerging and vibrant hospitality and tourism industries as offering great potential to secure safe and stable employment. With this in mind, Hope for Children plans to expand its vocational training program by establishing a restaurant in Addis Ababa to be used as a hospitality training facility. The restaurant will provide a dynamic and positive environment for disadvantaged youth to learn essential skills for the workplace as well as an opportunity for the growing number of international tourists to interact with the young people and support an enterprise-based solution to ending their poverty. We also intend to expand our existing vocational training program to offer more young people the opportunity to gain skills to help them find meaningful work.
EXPANDED SEXUAL HEALTH PROGRAM
As already mentioned, we received an overwhelmingly positive response to the Lets Talk About Sex workshops. We are seeking funds to continue this potentially life-saving program.
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