THE Warracknabeal community showed its overwhelming support to the Elli Martha Fund with more than 300 pairs of socks sold and plenty of donations made at a launch last weekend.
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A large crowd attended the official launch of the fund at Warracknabeal Kindergarten where a memorial water fountain was also unveiled in Elli’s memory.
The feature fountain was built by school teacher Mick Williamson with the support of Warracknabeal mother Nadine Jenkinson.
The Elli Martha Fund honours the memory of five-year-old Warracknabeal student Elli Butuyuyu who died in August last year from an aggressive brain tumour.
Her parents Dr Franklin Butuyuyu and wife Hanna wanted to start the fund to help cover costs for families from the region with sick children who need to travel long distances and use alternative accommodation.
Fund supporters are selling specially designed ‘Elli socks’ for $10 a pair.
The brightly coloured socks feature a butterfly which was one of Elli’s favourite animals.
Fund organiser Angie Cox said the support at the launch had been amazing.
“I knew people would get behind this fund but I was amazed at the size of the support and the generosity of the community,” she said.
“It’s just the ideal start although we have already sold out of some sock sizes.”
Dr Franklin thanked the community for supporting the fund during his speech at the launch.
He was particularly grateful to the committee which helped the Butuyuyus to initiate the fund and the socks production.
He also thanked Warracknabeal kindergarten management and Rural Northwest Health managers and board for their support.
“The Elli Martha fund is now a community driven charity,” he said.
“It is a social fund with trustees that include our family, a community member, each of Warracknabeal’s primary school principals and RNH representatives including the CEO, administration worker, social worker and a board member.”