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“Shocked and amazed”: Neighbours raise over $50,000 for bullied boy

<p dir="ltr">A couple from Texas has helped raise over $55,000 for their young neighbour who was being bullied.</p> <p dir="ltr">Their story began when young Shayden Walker knocked on the door of Brennan Ray and Angell Hammersmith, looking for friends.</p> <p dir="ltr">The conversation was captured on their home’s video doorbell system, as Walker asked if they knew any children between the ages of 11 and 12 because he “needs some friends really bad”.</p> <p dir="ltr">Walker, who approached their house wearing a Jaws t-shirt, explained that some neighbourhood kids had been bullying him.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I could hear the innocence and vulnerability in his voice,” Ray told DailyMail.com. “All I knew is that I wanted to help the kid.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The video has since been viewed on TikTok more than 66 million times, with TikTokers from across the world commenting that they hope he finds some “REAL friends soon” and saying “I have never wanted to hug a kid so bad in my life.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Ray and Hammersmith decided to start a GoFundMe page for Walker, asking people to “spread kindness for Shayden” and give what they can to help provide for the boy, while encouraging people to “come together and show him he's got some friends.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“We are raising money to help buy him a gaming system, school clothes and hopefully some amusement park tickets and anything else he may want or need,” the fundraising page reads.</p> <p dir="ltr">In just four days of the fundraising page being online, people from around the world have helped donate more than $55,000AUD to Shayden and his family, with the organisers saying they are “shocked and amazed” at people’s generosity.</p> <p dir="ltr">Many of the donations came with messages for Shayden, saying “You have a friend in me.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Walker's stepfather now says Shayden's a “totally different kid” than he was just last week, while the young boy said in a video posted to his father's TikTok page that “Y'all have touched my heart so much, it's just literally to the point where I want to cry.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The family have requested that the donations be turned off on the donations page, saying they are not seeking any money.</p> <p dir="ltr">Many people commented on Shayden’s message, praising his bravery and sending messages of support.</p> <p dir="ltr">One person wrote, “Shayden, you are a strong kid. No one deserves to be bullied or made fun of.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“You are incredibly brave to be putting yourself out there and actively looking for friends instead of staying in the house.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“I know you are young, but the best advice I can give you is that you do not need anyone's validation but your own to know your worth. If you love yourself, you will never be alone.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: GoFundMe</em></p>

Family & Pets

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"OMG that's Nicole Kidman!": Magic moment at Hugh Jackman's Broadway fundraiser

<p dir="ltr">Nicole Kidman surprised fans when she appeared at fellow Aussie Hugh Jackman’s Broadway show. </p> <p dir="ltr">The actress attended New York's The Winter Garden Theatre to watch Hugh’s <em>The Music Man</em> show and was ready to dig deep into her pockets to support a charity. </p> <p dir="ltr">During a break in the show, Hugh came back on stage and announced that he will be auctioning off his signed hat.</p> <p dir="ltr">The winning bidder will see their proceeds going to Broadway Cares – a nonprofit US organisation that helps provide medicine, health care, and meals to those in need. </p> <p dir="ltr">As the bidding started, Nicole could be heard offering a huge US$100,000 (AU$150,000) for the hat and was met with cheering from the crowd. </p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CldqPWVOr1z/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CldqPWVOr1z/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Hugh Jackman (@thehughjackman)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Nicole won the bid and made her way to the stage as the crowd applauded her generosity. </p> <p dir="ltr">Later on Instagram, Hugh thanked her for her generosity in a post that showed him handing over the hat to her. </p> <p dir="ltr">“The generosity and love emanating from @nicolekidman leaves me speechless. Thank you Nic for your friendship and support! @musicmanbway @nicholastheward @bcefa,” he wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">She replied: “Darling Hugh, To my friend of 30 years. Right back at you such a generous gorgeous man, it was a brilliant night in the theatre and an honor to be able to donate to @bcefa! + Congratulations to the talented cast.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Check out the amazing moment in full <a href="https://celebrity.nine.com.au/latest/nicole-kidman-hugh-jackman-the-music-man-broadway-show-bids-150000-for-hat/5d6a88fc-a056-4d33-9a66-a66e41c3ddb9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>. </strong></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Instagram</em></p>

Caring

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Couple tackle the Nullabor to raise funds for polio charity

<p dir="ltr">A Tasmanian couple are jumping on their bicycles ahead of their 2750-kilometre journey - and they’re doing it to raise funds for a good cause.</p> <p dir="ltr">Phil and Joyce Ogden, who have been members of Rotary for over a decade, are undertaking the trek from Perth to Adelaide as part of an epic fundraiser for Rotary’s END POLIO campaign.</p> <p dir="ltr">The campaign, which was started over 30 years ago by Rotary, UNICEF and the World Health Organisation, has been driving towards the goal of completely eradicating Polio, beginning with a project to vaccinate children in the Philippines against the disease in 1979.</p> <p dir="ltr">Now, Polio is believed to only be naturally spreading in Afghanistan and Pakistan, but according to the <a href="https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/wha65/A65_20-en.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">World Health Assembly</a>, failing to eradicate the disease would be a “global health emergency”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We feel the enormous effort which has gone into turning the tide of the disease will be lost if pressure, and fundraising, is not maintained until the final handful of cases is consigned to history,” the Ogdens said in a message to all Rotarians.</p> <p dir="ltr">With the support of their South Launceston Rotary Club, the Odgens have planned to begin their trip in mid-May and hope to raise awareness of the cause along the way.</p> <p dir="ltr">“If we take our collective eyes off the ball, the disease will re-establish,” the couple said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“So, we are still committed to making our personal donations every year but felt we might harness another of our passions, cycling, to push things along - once again with the assistance of Rotary.”</p> <p dir="ltr">With limited sources of water and no shops to buy food from along the Nullarbor, the couple will carry a week’s worth of food and two days of water at a time, and they’re relying on dehydrated food which will be mailed ahead of them.</p> <p dir="ltr">Their upcoming journey isn’t a first for the Ogdens, who have covered more than 100,000 kilometres from crossing the European Alps, the Pyrenees and the Rockies. </p> <p dir="ltr">Heather Chong, the Tasmanian District Governor, praised the pair and described them as “adventurous philanthropists”.</p> <p dir="ltr">The couple have started an <a href="https://raise.rotary.org/phil-ogden/fundraiser" target="_blank" rel="noopener">online fundraiser</a> with a goal of raising $40,000. As of publication, the fundraiser has already collected $10,000 in donations, with every $1 donated prompting the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to contribute $2.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-5eab3d00-7fff-453c-5cb3-5b7e0b1be26c"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Supplied</em></p>

Caring

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Shocking twist to 12-year-old’s heroic fundraising effort

<p dir="ltr">A 12-year-old boy who raised over $400,000 (NZ 480,000) for those suffering in Ukraine has experienced a sudden shock - his social media accounts have been targeted by Russian hackers.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-3f4c4284-7fff-75e4-9f41-65f2826569a5"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">Gabriel Clark’s story started when his dad, TV and film director Richard Clark, posted to Twitter asking his followers to follow his son’s woodworking account on Instagram.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Lovely twitter people - I don't know how many of you are also <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/instagram?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#instagram</a> users but I'm looking for a wee favour. I've a 12yr old who loves woodwork. He spends hours on his lathe making bowls and creating chopping boards which he's sells to save up for a mountain bike. 1/3 <a href="https://t.co/Ny60rFf1TE">pic.twitter.com/Ny60rFf1TE</a></p> <p>— Richard R Clark 🇺🇦 (@rclarkie) <a href="https://twitter.com/rclarkie/status/1507415791116857349?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 25, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">By the following day, Gabriel’s followers grew from just six to over 33,000 and he had received a whopping 20,000 orders for the bowls and chopping boards he makes using his lathe.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It was a lot to take in for a wee lad of 12yrs (sic),” his dad wrote in a Twitter thread recounting the situation.</p> <p dir="ltr">After calculating that it would take him 32 years to fulfil every order, Gabriel decided to make just one bowl, called ‘Gabriel’s Bowl for Ukraine’.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We set up a Just Giving page 10 days ago for Save the Children’s Ukraine Appeal, with Gabriel setting a target of £5,000,” Richard explained. “The fundraiser would stay live until Easter when one donor would be chosen at random to win his bowl.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Within 24 hours, donations exceeded £50,000 and by April 21, nearly 14,000 people had given a total of £251,661, with an entrant named Renuka Chapman winning the special prize.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-38c7529e-7fff-cb3a-a323-dbcf793b8e71"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">But, Gabriel’s successes have been soured within just one week, with Mr Clark revealing that Russian hackers had taken down Gabriel’s Instagram account and they had lost all of his content.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Ok everyone. GABRIEL REALLY NEEDS YOUR HELP. Russian hackers have taken down his <a href="https://twitter.com/instagram?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@instagram</a> account clarkie_woodwood. All posts and everything gone. We desperately need Instagram to contact us.<br />Please help &amp; RT! <a href="https://t.co/pWubH87cKQ">pic.twitter.com/pWubH87cKQ</a></p> <p>— Richard R Clark 🇺🇦 (@rclarkie) <a href="https://twitter.com/rclarkie/status/1519957679287975940?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 29, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Appealing for online help once again, even Ben Wallace, the UK’s Defence Secretary, called on the country’s National Cyber Security Centre to lend a hand.</p> <p dir="ltr">“@NCSC (The National Cyber Security Centre’s Twitter account) let’s see what we can do to help. What a thing to do to Gabriel!” Mr Wallace wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">As of publication, Mr Clark confirmed that his son’s account was “half back at least”, describing it as “one less stressful day.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-e350c057-7fff-e19d-bd95-7018f8ecddd2"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: @rclarkie (Twitter)</em></p>

Caring

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Gary Ablett's wife shares details on son's rare disease

<p dir="ltr">Jordan Ablett, the wife of retired Geelong footballer Gary Ablett, has opened up about their son Levi’s medical conditions, and how he may never speak.</p> <p dir="ltr">Three-year-old Levi has a rare degenerative disease which Gary and Jordan first spoke publicly about in 2020.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-87c10d96-7fff-7acd-1c6d-8c4698e46c75"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">Now, Jordan has spoken about the difficulties she faces communicating with her baby boy days before the start of this year’s Good Friday fundraising appeal for the Royal Children’s Hospital, for which she is an ambassador.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CcG9kwhPNOa/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CcG9kwhPNOa/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by JORDAN ABLETT (@jordan_ablett)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“It’s really difficult from a practical point of view, but also really difficult just being his mum and not being able to hear his voice or know what he needs. When he gets upset, I have to guess what the problem is,” she told the <em><a href="https://www.heraldsun.com.au/lifestyle/vweekend/the-abletts-cherish-son-levis-smiles-and-laughter-through-his-heartbreaking-silence/news-story/0b0d74ce8510736fbaee0a777786049f" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Herald Sun</a></em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Although I will say, despite him not being able to communicate, I do feel as though I’ve really learnt to understand him over the years - I have had to put a lot of confidence in my parenting.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Jordan said food and drink could also be a challenge for Levi, with a risk of him aspirating if they weren’t blended enough and got into his lungs.</p> <p dir="ltr">She added that a wide team of people at the Royal Children’s Hospital monitored his health, and that being an ambassador for the hospital’s fundraiser was “the absolute least I can do for the kids”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“As a mum who relies heavily on the RCH (Royal Children’s Hospital) for my son’s care, I fully understand how important it is that we be generous so that the children can continue to receive world-class care,” she wrote on the Instagram post announcing her role as an ambassador.</p> <p dir="ltr">“These kids are bright lights and we all want to see them shine.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-5f16641a-7fff-939c-aace-dd2652052089"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">“Your support is truly heartfelt by all impacted by the RCH.”</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CMeWQMJMJEk/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CMeWQMJMJEk/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by JORDAN ABLETT (@jordan_ablett)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Jordan first opened up about her son’s condition on an episode of <em>The Significant Others</em> podcast, including the moment she and her husband received the news of his diagnosis.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I just remember sitting with Gaz in that meeting and when they said it, I just remember absolutely breaking down,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It’s one thing to receive a diagnosis which just confirms that Levi has a rare and degenerative disease.</p> <p dir="ltr">“However, it’s another thing to understand that it is life-threatening and that’s like a whole other ball game and a whole other situation in itself because that stuff you just can’t prepare for.</p> <p dir="ltr">“There is a very short life expectancy, which is why I constantly say to people when they ask about Levi that we are literally just taking it day by day because we have no idea what the future holds.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-feef34e8-7fff-ad39-02f7-0c6a74e91120"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Good Friday Appeal (Facebook)</em></p>

Caring

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Captain Australia raises over $100K for children’s cancer research

<p dir="ltr">A real-life superhero has set out on a quest to walk 2,000 kilometres in ten weeks to raise funds for children’s cancer research, and has already raised over $100,000 in the process.</p><p><span id="docs-internal-guid-05e0a1fc-7fff-a021-f4e7-f552e4e20cb6"></span></p><p dir="ltr">Captain Australia, also known as Simon, began his ‘Big Walk’ from Brisbane to Melbourne in December 2021, and hopes to raise $250,000 for the Kids Cancer Project by the time he reaches the finish line.</p><p dir="ltr"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/02/capt-austr-jpg-5f960e.jpg" alt="" width="1279" height="720" /></p><p dir="ltr"><em>Captain Australia began his journey in Queensland to raise funds to fight kids’ cancer. Image: Captain Australia’s Big Walk</em></p><p dir="ltr">Simon was inspired to undertake the Herculean feat after he was diagnosed with head and neck cancer four years ago.</p><p dir="ltr">“I had a 40-60 percent chance that chemoradiation would beat the disease, and six months to live if it failed. I got lucky,” he said on his fundraising website.</p><p dir="ltr">“But even when you survive cancer, you have to pay a horrible price, dealing with side effects and the threat of recurrence for the rest of your life.</p><p dir="ltr">“No child should have to endure that.”</p><p dir="ltr">This won’t be the first time Simon has undergone a journey of this magnitude, having walked from Brisbane to Sydney to escape a dangerous domestic situation when he was 15.</p><p dir="ltr">During that journey, Simon said he found himself and discovered a renewed sense of hope for the world that he wants to share with kids fighting cancer.</p><p dir="ltr">Simon reached Sydney on February 12, and still has about 700 kilometres left to go.</p><p dir="ltr">When asked where he was on his journey, Simon told <em>OverSixty</em>: "I'm headed for Federation Square in Melbourne which something like 750 kilometres straight down the freeway but I take the long and winding road (less travelled).</p><p dir="ltr">"It's 1200 kilometres plus back to Brisbane but I would easily have come 1400 or more so far so it's hard to say precisely.</p><p dir="ltr">"I've come a long way, literally and figuratively."</p><p dir="ltr">You can support his trek by donating to The Kid’s Cancer Project <a href="https://captain-australias-big-walk.raisely.com/donate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.</p><p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-5b1115e1-7fff-beef-18f6-0f950f6c1417"></span></p><p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Captain Australia’s BIG WALK (Facebook)</em></p>

Caring

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“Pint-sized explorer” takes on Kosciusko to honour his late mum

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A six-year-old boy has spent a day conquering Australia’s highest peak for a cause that is incredibly close to him and his family.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ollie Finnane, accompanied by his cousins Finn Gibson, ten, and Ted O’Hare, eight, trekked to the summit of Mount Kosciuszko for a good cause: to raise money for the Torie Finnane Foundation, established in honour of Ollie’s late mother.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The boys wanted to do something for the foundation,” Ollie’s dad Liam Finnane told </span><em><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/torie-finnane-foundation-schoolboy-climbs-mt-kosciuosko-raise-money-for-mum/09f55c71-4a8b-41fc-abb2-148549d06dfa" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">9news.com.au</span></a></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“So they set the goal of climbing Australia’s highest peak on Australia Day, and hoped to raise $5000 to $10,000 along the way.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When they made it back to Thredbo on Thursday night, they discovered the figure was well over $20,000.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“There was no whinging and no sore feet,” Liam said.</span></p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CZLHV_BPK-w/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CZLHV_BPK-w/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Torie Finnane Foundation (@toriefinnanefoundation)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Torie Finnane, Ollie’s mum, was a popular and respected midwife at the Orange Hospital, in the city of Orange in NSW’s central west.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In December 2020, while celebrating the birth of her third child Maisie and the family’s first night at home as a family of five, Torie began experiencing headaches.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Within just a few days, Torie had succumbed to bacterial meningitis, passing away in the very same hospital where she had assisted in the birth of so many babies.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Her death greatly affected the close-knit community, with Liam now caring for three children under five on his own.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With her family and friends wanting to honour her passion for healthcare, the Torie Finnane Foundation was established in December 2021 - a year after Torie’s passing.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The foundation aims to provide the highest quality midwifery and nursing services in regional areas by purchasing much-needed equipment and providing training scholarships and placements.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Through the foundation, regional midwives and special care nurses will spend a month training and learning from experienced obstetricians in Sydney, before returning to regional areas to utilise their skills.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Investing in nurses and midwives means we invest in patient safety and clinical care in our community,” Orange Hospital General Manager Catherine Nowlan told the </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">ABC</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> in December.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ollie, Finn and Ted’s climb marks one of the first fundraising efforts for the foundation, with their climb announced on social media little over a month before it began.</span></p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CXkB9rGPx3K/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CXkB9rGPx3K/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Torie Finnane Foundation (@toriefinnanefoundation)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Look at these little legends! Meet Torie’s son Ollie Finnane (6), nephew Ted O’Hare (8) and nephew Finn Gibson (10),” a post on the foundation’s Instagram page reads.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“These pint sized explorers are going to tackle a 13km walk across the top of Mt Kosciuszko on Australia Day to honour Torie, with the aim to raise $10,000 for TFF.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We thought we can make a difference,” Liam said after the climb.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Even on Kosciuszko, people saw the boys in their Torie Finnane Foundation shirts and were offering them cash halfway up the mountain.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.toriefinnanefoundation.com.au/" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">foundation</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is still accepting donations, with the first nurse placements expected to start later this year.</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: @toriefinnanefoundation (Instagram)</span></em></p>

Family & Pets

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Millions raised for useless treatments

<p>Crowdfunding campaigns have raised millions of dollars toward medical treatments that are unsafe or unsupported, a new study finds.</p> <p>More than 1000 crowdfunding campaigns, mostly through the site GoFundMe, have raised more than $US6.7 million to treat cancer, brain or spinal cord injury, and chronic Lyme disease, using therapies that are dangerous or ineffective, <a rel="noopener" href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/10.1001/jama.2018.10264" target="_blank">according to research</a> appearing in the journal JAMA, led by Ford Vox of the Shepherd Centre in Atlanta, US.</p> <p>“Assuming that the funds raised are spent to pay for these treatments, donors indirectly contributed millions of dollars to practitioners to deliver dubious, possibly unsafe care,” Vox and his team write.</p> <p>The study, which looked at fund-raising efforts since November 2015, identified campaigns that sought to raise money for homeopathic or naturopathic approaches to cancer, hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) and stem cell treatments for brain and spinal cord injury, and long-term antibiotic therapy for “chronic Lyme disease”.</p> <p>“Homeopathic treatments for cancer and HBOT for brain injury are ineffective,” the authors write. “Stem cell therapy for central nervous system injury and long term antibiotic therapy for chronic Lyme disease can result in serious adverse events.”</p> <p>The diseases and treatments were selected for “clinical experience and visibility”.</p> <p>The researchers looked at four crowdfunding sites that allow medical campaigns: GoFundMe, YouCaring, CrowdRise, and FundRazr. All but 2% of the campaigns that met the study’s criteria were found on GoFundMe.</p> <p>“The present study … suggests that medical crowdfunding is being used for multiple problematic treatments,” the researchers write.</p> <p>Some 474 campaigns – nearly half of those that fitted the study’s guidelines – were for homeopathic or naturopathic cancer treatments, representing $US3.5 million in donations.</p> <p>Overall, medical campaigns on GoFundMe raised $US3 billion overall in 2016, up $US1 billion from the previous year. Vox and his team note that the campaigns “can fill insurance gaps”, but problems arise when the funds are directed toward questionable practitioners.</p> <p>Of course, some patients pay for their own dangerous care. Last year, it was revealed that three people in Florida, US, had <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1609583?query=TOC" target="_blank">lost their eyesight</a> after paying for stem cell treatments at a facility they thought was conducting a clinical trial.</p> <p>The news <a rel="noopener" href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/biology/opinion-regulators-need-to-protect-stem-cell-promise" target="_blank">sparked calls for increased regulation</a> of clinics, which “are marketing so-called stem cell treatments without first showing that they work or are safe”, as Megan Munsie and Claire Tanner from researcher collaboration Stem Cells Australia wrote in Cosmos earlier this year.</p> <div class="newsletter-box"> <div id="wpcf7-f6-p23039-o1" class="wpcf7"> <p style="display: none !important;"> </p> <p><!-- Chimpmail extension by Renzo Johnson --></p> </div> </div> <p><!-- Start of tracking content syndication. Please do not remove this section as it allows us to keep track of republished articles --></p> <p><img id="cosmos-post-tracker" style="opacity: 0; height: 1px!important; width: 1px!important; border: 0!important; position: absolute!important; z-index: -1!important;" src="https://syndication.cosmosmagazine.com/?id=23039&amp;title=Millions+raised+for+useless+treatments" alt="" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><!-- End of tracking content syndication --></p> <div id="contributors"> <p><em><a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/people/crowd-funders-raise-millions-for-useless-cancer-stem-cell-treatments/">This article</a> was originally published on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com">Cosmos Magazine</a> and was written by <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/contributor/samantha-page">Samantha Page</a>. Samantha Page is a science journalist based in Spain.</em></p> <p><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p> </div>

Money & Banking

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“I don’t think I can do this”: Serena Williams shares heartbreaking news

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Serena Williams has shared the moment she broke down while revealing her close friend’s battle with pancreatic cancer, with the hope of raising awareness for the disease.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Serena </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://honey.nine.com.au/latest/serena-williams-breaks-down-in-emotional-video/1316f7d2-0262-4e1d-92d5-ecb561b4e2d1" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">shared a short clip</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> to Twitter and was emotional while speaking about her friend Dr Esther Lee.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">My friend Esther is in treatment for pancreatic cancer. I've joined Team Esther for the LA Cancer Challenge 5K on on October 31st to raise awareness and do my part to help find a cure. Register and make a donation today! <a href="https://t.co/Egqv0UdHKO">https://t.co/Egqv0UdHKO</a> <a href="https://t.co/491clTcVO9">pic.twitter.com/491clTcVO9</a></p> — Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) <a href="https://twitter.com/serenawilliams/status/1451590492102201349?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 22, 2021</a></blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Last year, my friend Esther was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and she’s been by my side whenever I’ve needed her,” Williams said, visibly tearing up and struggling to speak.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I don’t think I can do this, this is going to be too hard.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“My dear friend Esther has been a huge part of my own health journey, and now she needs our help as she battles pancreatic cancer.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Dr Lee, a physiotherapist, has worked with Serena and her sister Venus throughout their tennis careers.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In the clip, Williams said she would be supporting her close friend by taking part in the LA Cancer Challenge 5K initiative, with proceeds from her fundraising going towards pancreatic research.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Esther has been named the honorary starter for the LA Cancer Challenge 5K walk-run on October 31st in UCLA, benefiting the Hirshberg Foundation for pancreatic cancer research,” Williams said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“My family and I have joined Team Esther to help support everyone fighting this disease. Please join us as we raise awareness and race towards a cure by finding and advancing critical research.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The tennis champion has previously credited Dr Lee with saving her life, after Williams developed a blood clot that could have killed her if she hadn’t of followed her friend’s advice to go to hospital.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I didn’t want to go and she told me, ‘You got to go,’ and that was the beginning of stuff that was really bad but ended up being good for me,” Williams told reporters in 2012.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I’ve thanked her so many times for that because it literally could have been life-changing.”</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: @serenawilliams / Twitter</span></em></p>

Relationships

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Family of Captain Sir Tom Moore announce fundraising event to mark 101st birthday

<p>Captain Sir Tom Moore’s family is continuing his legacy by announcing a new fundraising event on what would have been his 101st<br />birthday.</p> <p>The WWII veteran made global headlines when he spent his quarantine days walking 100 laps around his back garden ahead of his 100th<br />birthday.</p> <p>He ended up raising £33 million (AUD $60 million) for the National Health Service (NHS) – breaking the Just Giving record for the largest sum of money raised through a single campaign.</p> <p>To mark his birthday on April 30, the family have launched The Captain Tom 100.</p> <p>"We want people to go crazy and create their own 100 - a challenge around the number 100," his daughter Hannah Ingram-Moore told<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-56641436" target="_blank" title="BBC"><em>BBC</em></a>.</p> <p>"Because he was 100 and he was so proud to be 100."</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7840582/captain-tom-moore.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/c862a02d993b46b9a734736412a8be4d" /></p> <p><em>Image: Getty</em></p> <p>Ms Ingram-Moore went on to say: "I really hope people see this [100 challenge] for what it is, which is an absolute chance to bring joy, put money back into charities and support the Captain Tom Foundation, which after all is the legacy of hope that he's left us."</p> <p>The family is encouraging people to get out and raise money by doing 100 of something, whether it is baking 100 cupcakes or climbing 100 steps.</p> <p>"It is probably my deepest regret that he is not here but I can do nothing about that. What we can do is deliver something sensational on his birthday," Ms Ingram-Moore told<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/14550471/captain-tom-moore-100-challenge-charity/" target="_blank" title="The Sun"><em>The Sun</em></a>.</p> <p>"My father was so proud to have made it to 100 and so much happened in that year that he was one hundred. It's a great number, so we felt compelled to keep it.</p> <p>"One hundred is synonymous with him around the world so it had to be 100."</p> <p>Captain Tom Moore died on February 2 due to COVID-19 complications – the very cause he raised money for.</p>

Caring

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Reality star raises over $1 million in just 16 hours for stricken baby

<p>A social media influencer has raised over £1m (AUD$1.8m) in less than a day to help his daughter get life-saving treatment for leukaemia.</p> <p>Ashley Cain, who appeared on the MTV series Ex on the Beach, wrote on Instagram on Saturday that he and his partner Safiyya Vorajee, also an influencer, "are on our knees asking for help" after their seven-month-old, Azaylia, had a leukaemia relapse.</p> <p>The baby requires a year-long CAR-T therapy, plus a haplo transplant, for the best chance of survival, Cain wrote.</p> <p>It only took 16 hours after the post went up for Cain to hit the £1m target after more than 83,000 people donated.</p> <p>The 30-year-old said: “After long discussions and a global outreach for treatment, our consultants along with consultants from around the world have come to the conclusion that the ONLY option to save a minimum period of 1 year.</p> <p>“Because of the aggressiveness of Azaylia’s disease, we don’t have time on our side and we may have to fly out within a matter of weeks. Azaylia is such a strong little girl who has fought through every near impossible battle so far and she has done it all with love in her heart and a smile on her face!”</p> <p>Cain and Vorajee welcomed Azaylia in August, and learned their baby was suffering from leukemia at eight weeks old.</p> <p>“Azaylia had a frighteningly high leukemia count plus tumours in her spleen, stomach, lungs and kidneys which put her in critical condition and resulted in her being put into intensive care,” Cain wrote on the fundraising page.</p> <p>“The doctors warned us that there was a high probability that she wouldn’t survive past the first round of chemotherapy due to the aggressiveness and rareness of her disease combined with her age.”</p> <p>The couple, who have already surpassed their fundraising target, said they will donate any extra money to “other children and their families in the same situation”.</p>

Caring

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“True national treasure”: Moore to be knighted by the Queen

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text "> <p>Captain Tom Moore captured hearts around the world as he walked laps around his garden to raise money for NHS charities. He has since raised more than £33m ($NZD 65m) and is set to receive a knighthood for his heroic fundraising efforts, which is news he is “delighted” by.</p> <p>Downing Street confirmed the news on Tuesday, with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson saying that Moore is a “beacon of light through the fog of coronavirus”.</p> <p>"Colonel Tom’s fantastic fundraising broke records, inspired the whole country and provided us all with a beacon of light through the fog of coronavirus," Johnson said in a statement.</p> <p>"On behalf of everyone who has been moved by his incredible story, I want to say a huge thank you. He's a true national treasure."</p> <p>Queen Elizabeth approved the knighthood and it will formally be announced later today.</p> <p>She also acknowledged his efforts with a personalised birthday card. It is tradition that the Queen sends letters to all British centenarians, but Moore’s card contained a message specific to his fundraising efforts.</p> <p>"I am so pleased to know that you are celebrating your one hundredth birthday on 30th April, 2020," it read.</p> <p>"I was also most interested to hear of your recent fundraising efforts for NHS Charities Together at this difficult time. I send my congratulations and best wishes to you on such a special occasion."</p> <p>Prince William has also written to Moore to congratulate him on his amazing achievement.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">We sent <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CaptainTomMoore?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CaptainTomMoore</a> a special message from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. 🥰 Watch his reaction below...⤵️<a href="https://twitter.com/KensingtonRoyal?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KensingtonRoyal</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/captaintommoore?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@captaintommoore</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WalkWithTom?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WalkWithTom</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BBCBreakfast?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BBCBreakfast</a><br />More here: <a href="https://t.co/wy1ixmuA2E">https://t.co/wy1ixmuA2E</a> <a href="https://t.co/U2oPdwbZA7">pic.twitter.com/U2oPdwbZA7</a></p> — BBC Breakfast (@BBCBreakfast) <a href="https://twitter.com/BBCBreakfast/status/1251029611942739968?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 17, 2020</a></blockquote> <p>"It's wonderful that everyone has been inspired by his story and his determination. I think he's a one man fundraising machine," Prince William said in an interview with the BBC. "Good on him and I hope he keeps going."</p> </div> </div> </div>

Retirement Life

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Captain Tom Moore's 100th birthday sealed with special postmark from Royal Mail

<p>A special postmark has been made in order to celebrate the 100th birthday of NHS fundraiser Captain Tom Moore.</p> <p>He’s set to celebrate his birthday on the 30th of April, and the special postmark will be used on all mail sent from Monday until May 1.</p> <p>The postmark reads: "Happy 100th Birthday Captain Thomas Moore NHS fundraising hero 30th April 2020.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Today we launch a very special postmark to celebrate Captain Thomas Moore's 100th Birthday!<br /><br />The postmark will pay tribute to the work of the inspiring NHS fundraiser who has captured the hearts and minds of the nation in the midst of the ongoing crisis.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CaptainTomMoore?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CaptainTomMoore</a> 👏 <a href="https://t.co/EGC9f8nfTw">pic.twitter.com/EGC9f8nfTw</a></p> — Royal Mail (@RoyalMail) <a href="https://twitter.com/RoyalMail/status/1254665226341023744?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 27, 2020</a></blockquote> <p>The World War II veteran has touched the hearts of people worldwide, as thousands of cards continue to be sent in to celebrate his birthday.</p> <p>Captain Tom set out to complete 100 laps of his yard before his 100th birthday in order to raise much needed funds for the NHS and completed his final laps on the 17th of April surrounded by a military guard in honour of his achievements.</p> <p>His initial aim was to raise £1,000 ($NZD 2,047) but his goal was completed in around 24 hours and he extended his challenge to 200 laps after completing the challenge two weeks ahead of schedule.</p> <p>More than 1.3 million people around the world have donated an incredible £29,353,122 ($NZD 60,100,810).</p> <p>There are calls for Tom to be knighted and he was even part of a chart-topping hit and became the oldest person in the UK to reach number 1.</p> <p>“What wonderful news to receive today, a number one single and a record breaker too – my grandchildren can’t believe I am a chart-topper,” he said.</p> <p>“I have to thank Michael Ball, the NHS Voices of Care Choir and everyone behind the scenes, who shared their talents and expertise in order to raise money for the NHS, to whom we owe so much.”</p> <p>Many around the world have also sent Captain Tom cards ahead of his birthday, with more than 100,000 cards being processed and many more being expected as his birthday draws closer.</p> <p>Royal mail has adapted its sorting machines in the South Midlands Mail Centre to re-route all of his post to a dedicated collection box.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Happy birthday, <a href="https://twitter.com/captaintommoore?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@captaintommoore</a>!🎉<br /><br />The WWII veteran has received over 120,000 cards for his 100th birthday after raising over £29 million for Britain’s NHS. <a href="https://t.co/a6tXpq1iew">https://t.co/a6tXpq1iew</a> <a href="https://t.co/s0ICZiF23Y">pic.twitter.com/s0ICZiF23Y</a></p> — Cheddar🧀 (@cheddar) <a href="https://twitter.com/cheddar/status/1254857682340610048?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 27, 2020</a></blockquote> <p>David Gold, director of public affairs and policy at Royal Mail says that Captain Tom’s achievements are “truly phenomenal”.</p> <p>“What Captain Thomas Moore has achieved is truly phenomenal, and this is reflected in the affection shown for him across the world.</p> <p>"As Royal Mail works to keep the country connected during these challenging times, we are honoured to issue a special postmark in celebration of his 100th birthday.</p> <p>"We continued to deliver the many tens of thousands of birthday cards from well-wishers across the UK and abroad as people look to show their gratitude for all he has achieved on a more personal level."</p>

Retirement Life

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Meghan Markle’s estranged sister sets up online fundraiser asking for $20,000

<p>Meghan Markle’s half-sister has created an online fundraising page asking for $20,000 to make her home more accessible to the wheelchair user.</p> <p>Samantha Grant, 52, has previously spoken out against her actress sister who is dating Prince Harry, describing her as a “self-obsessed” social climber.</p> <p>The mother-of-three admitted last year that she hasn’t seen Meghan since 2008.</p> <p>Samantha, who suffers from MS, started a GoFundMe page to ask for money to make adjustments to her home.</p> <p>“For years I've struggled with the inability to get around my home effectively and safely in a wheelchair,” she wrote on her page, which has so far raised $150,” she writes on the page.</p> <p>“Some may think that because I look OK that I can't possibly struggle.</p> <p>“The truth is that I do with spinal MS. I would just like to be able to navigate my home safely and efficiently.</p> <p>“I'd like to be able to walk and undergo physical therapy but until and unless I can, I am barred from so many daily activities because my house is not accessible to my wheelchair.”</p> <p><img width="446" height="297" src="https://s.yimg.com/iu/api/res/1.2/LFXpzfo0WDQ6fvUQlyxtTw--~D/cm90YXRlPWF1dG87dz05NjA7YXBwaWQ9eXZpZGVv/https://s.yimg.com/ea/img/-/171023/59ed0ecf7778b_24759094_1508362066.6197_59ed0e83136d4.jpg" alt="Samantha Grant GoFundMe" class="article-figure-image" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p>However, the page has also garnered $150 from the public but those who have donated have left some scathing comments.</p> <p>“They say you are Meghan Markle's sister. If that is true… shame on her for not helping you with all the money she's making. God bless you and the laws of the universe does exist," one person said.</p> <p>"Lots of good luck wishes always from me here in the UK for a new home for Samantha, I too have MS have fought for nearly 50 years no meds and too have a bungalow adapted for me," another person said.</p> <p>Samantha is set to <strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/books/2017/09/inside-meghan-markles-sisters-tell-all-book/">release a book “The Diary of Princess Pushy’s Sister, which will detail her tumultuous relationship with Meghan.</a> </span></strong></p> <p> </p>

Caring

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9-year-old raises $100,000 for sick kids

<p>At an age where most children are more interested in video games, Scott Guerini has managed to raise over $100,000 for sick children. Pretty impressive for a nine year old!</p> <p>Scott’s fundraising started at age four, when he decided that he wanted to do something that could help sick children. So, he walked 25km to the nearest town and see if he could raise money.</p> <p>The walk was a success and before too long annual marathon-length walks became a part of Scott’s schedule. He would walk 42km (no mean feat for a nine year old) battling through bad weather, pain and exhaustion, but with an unwavering dedication that saw him never stop short of the finish line.</p> <p><img width="500" height="375" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/12580/scott-start-of-marathon_500x375.jpg" alt="Scott Start Of Marathon" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p><em>Scott is all smiles at the start of one of his gruelling marathon walks. </em></p> <p>After some success, Scott set the audacious goal of raising $100,000 for sick children before he reached the age of 10. And yesterday, when it was announced that Scott had won HTC’s inaugural ‘One Day I Will’ campaign (which comes with $25,000 prize money) Scott reached that goal.</p> <p>“When I heard I had won I was completely shocked,” Scott said. “I felt so happy and excited when I realised it meant I will reach my One Day I Will goal of raising $100,000 for Telethon by the time I’m 10. I am so relieved I have made it! It means I will help a lot of sick kids and babies. That means everything to me.”</p> <p>We don’t know what’s more amazing! The fact that a nine year old has the presence of mind and the generous spirit to feel compelled to act so selflessly, or the fact he managed to pull it off!</p> <p>Either way, it’s an amazing achievement, one that his parent’s should be very proud of. Congratulations Scott! </p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/health/caring/2015/12/profound-advice-from-centurions/">18 profound pieces of wisdom from people who have turned 100</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/health/caring/2015/12/santa-reunites-dad-and-daughters/">Santa reunites soldier dad and daughters for Christmas</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/health/caring/2015/12/twins-meet-at-birth/">Wonderful moment newborn twins meet for the first time</a></strong></em></span></p>

Caring

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Idyllic garden open to the community for spring fundraiser

<p>Yeverley McCarthy's life-long enthusiasm for her Hawea Flat garden has never waned from the day she stepped through the door to her historic farm cottage in 1978. The Hawea Flat community worker is looking forward to sharing her idyllic surroundings with the public on Sunday as part of the Lake Hawea Community Centre's fundraising Spring Garden Ramble.</p> <p>Yeverley, a former North Islander, always knew she would be a gardener but hadn't dreamed Hawea Flat would capture her heart. But then she met her husband, industrial biochemist and a fourth-generation Hawea Flat McCarthy, Bill. He was working at Hellabys and she was working in sales and marketing in Auckland.</p> <p>"When I proposed to him, he said, 'Well, we'll have to come home to Hawea Flat'," she recalled.</p> <p>It was a deal and the couple enjoyed many long years together raising their family, farming and volunteering in the community before Bill died with leukaemia in 2013, aged just 65.</p> <p>Over time, the 121-year-old stone cottage has been renovated, extended and remodelled.</p> <p>Yeverley recalls when she moved it in was "all little rooms, a tiny kitchen, no view".</p> <p>Just a few years ago, she and her husband finally decided to remove one of the internal walls to open up the living area so they could enjoy views across the farm to the mountains in the west.</p> <p>Early photos show the house sitting in the middle of empty grasslands but Sunday's visitors will come up a drive lined with oak, chestnut and walnut trees, passing an organic orchard of pears, apples and plums on the left.</p> <p>Johanna's legacy also includes a wellingtonia, a yew tree (wrapped and bound recently to keep it going). Varigated camellias share space with a magnolia stellata, a double cherry (in full bloom at the moment), and an huge, contorted wisteria which Yeverley has trained to grow up a palm tree.</p> <p>"Johanna did a plan. We still have a book of all the trees she planted. When she got married, she was told she had a choice. Water, or a car. It was 1912 so she choose water. It comes from Hospital Creek, from a spring. It's the same system we use today, a gravity-fed system. Once we put our own irrigation system on - it comes in from an artesan bore - that tops the system up and now we have no problems or stress [about running out]."</p> <p>Yeverley says the garden was a "great garden" under the watch of her mother-in-law, Muriel McCarthy, who picked up where Johanna left off and planted many more trees, including rhododendrons, an interesting gingko tree and an exotic "handkerchief tree" (or "ghost tree") that is very frost tender and just starting to flower this week.</p> <p>Muriel's great gardening mates were Maryed Urquhart, who used to have The Nook nursery, Wanaka writer and retired Morven Hills Station farmer Madge Snow, who now lives in Wanaka, and the late Fiona Rowley of Lake Hawea Station.</p> <p>"They are all very, very keen on their gardens and they had lots of precious bits and pieces that they just loved," Yeverley said.</p> <p>"My only claim to fame is the liquid amber… I had the Tree Tamers out here recently and they told me it was rotten in the middle and has to be chopped down," Yeverley said.</p> <p>A large hedged row of Douglas Fir shelters the garden from nor-west winds that rush down from the main divide, providing Yeverley with a calm spot to sit on the verandah, next to tremendously tall, flaming tulips gifted to her by Invercargill bulb growers, the Van Eeden family, after Bill passed away.</p> <p>"I like roses and my peonies. I like all the seasons. That's the nice thing. You get different things for every season. It is idyllic. And I am doing more development with beech tree planting and replacing some of the trees that had to be removed."</p> <p>Although the garden was always Yeverley's domain, Bill never let her down with hard work and he took particular pride in a willow tree in the driveway, which he kept nicely trimmed into an arch.</p> <p>"It is very much mine and Bill's. We've worked hard and we love it. Even though Bill has died, I couldn't go to town. It is my heart and soul. I don't want any old Philistine taking over. They could wreck it," Yeverley laughed.</p> <p>Written by Majorie Cook. First appeared on <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Stuff.co.nz</span></strong></a> </p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/news/news/2015/10/all-blacks-fireworks-gone-wrong/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>All Blacks fireworks display gone wrong costs pyrotechnics company $100K</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/news/news/2015/10/new-zealand%E2%80%99s-best-views-are-being-sold/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Some of New Zealand's most beautiful views are being sold to private hands</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/news/news/2015/10/kiwis-avoid-app-store-price-hike/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Kiwis avoid Apple's App Store price hike</strong></em></span></a></p>

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