WIMMERA community members will fundraise for the Royal Children's Hospital Good Friday Appeal this weekend.
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The community has rallied behind this appeal for years and will carry forward the goodwill this year as well.
Telangatuk East's Karen Rees will contribute to the appeal.
She is the mother of Joel Rees,14, who suffered a stroke at the age of three.
Following the stroke which left Joel paralysed on his left side, he was rushed to Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, from Horsham.
It took about 10 weeks for Joel to recover and the family was supported by the hospital throughout Joel's treatment.
"The Royal Children's Hospital were very supportive," Mrs Rees said.
"They not only took care of Joel for 10 weeks, they took care of us with our accommodation and helped us through. They were more like family to us.
"We had meetings with all kinds of specialists to provide the best possible care for Joel."
Mrs Rees said post the recovery, Joel had been actively engaging in sport.
"Joel does everything a 14-year old boy does," she said.
"He loves farming, playing football and tennis. He also played golf at the club last week."
Karen and her husband Luke Rees have been contributing to the Royal Children's Hospital Good Friday Appeal since the past 10 years and have raised thousands of dollars.
Mrs Rees said the appeal was a success only due to efforts put in by the entire community and every small contributions counts.
Toolondo Golf Club hosted the the Telangatuk East Royal Children's Hospital Good Friday Appeal on Sunday.
The event saw 17 teams enter from Horsham, Drung, Pimpinio, Natimuk, Toolondo and a team all the way from Murray Downs. They successfully raised $2018.75 this year.
Horsham Fire Brigade along with the volunteers will also take on the streets of Horsham with eight firetrucks ringing their sirens for the Royal Children's Hospital Good Friday Appeal.
The event will be co-ordinated by firefighter Ray Carman.
It is Mr Carman's 28th year fundraising for the Good Friday Appeal.
"My son is 29 years, he was born at the Royal Children's Hospital and I have been doing it since he was 12 months old. Royal Children's means a lot to me," he said.
The Horsham Fire Brigade aims to raise $50,000 this year and has raised up to $58,000 in the past.
Volunteers will appeal around the traffic signal junctions at Firebrace, Wilson, Dimboola and Baillie streets, Horsham, and other signals with their tins to promote and collect donations for the cause.
"Anyone who is unable to catch up with firetrucks or the traffic lights can head down to the fire stations to make the donations," Mr Carmen said.
Collection at the traffic lights will be available from 9am until 2pm. The fire trucks will do the rounds throughout Horsham from 9am. Volunteers can join the fire brigade to support the cause.
"We are anticipating about 45 people with the fire brigade," Mr Carmen said.
He said the reason behind the appeal was wholly to help the children as he believed that children were the future generation.
"A lot of members at the fire brigade have school age children who are helping us," he said.
The fire brigade is expecting about 10 kids walking down the streets alongside the fire trucks with their rattler tins. Mr Carmen said this would help promote kids helping other kids.
Fire brigade social member Aleishia Dossett will also volunteer for the appeal along with her daughter Abigail Dossett, 2, and son Jacob Dossett, 5.
People who missed the trucks can call 03 5382 6870 to organise for money to be collected.
Brad's Coffee owner Brad Wade will also be fundraising for the good cause. Mr Wade will donate $1 per cup of coffee sold to the Royal Children's Hospital appeal.
Brad's Coffee will be open on Good Friday between 6am to 1pm on O'Callaghans Parade, Horsham. between VicRoads and the Horsham Lawn Mower Centre.
Mr Wade will have his collection tin at the coffee store for donations.
The donation tins was received from the fire brigade as part of the appeal.
Brad's Coffee started six months earlier and it is Mr Wade's first time contributing to the Good Friday Appeal.
He hopes to contribute to mental health and cancer organisations in the coming months.
"My aim and my business is to give back to the community," he said.
"I want to raise funds for breast cancer since my sister has breast cancer and my other sister was diagnosed with Multiple sclerosis.
"I come from a fairly large family, lot of friends and family already contribute to the Royal Children's Hospital and I wanted to add to that.
"I haven't got any children myself but a lot of the families that come in here have children so I enjoy the family aspect. It is all about family really."
The appeal is expected to raise about $100 equivalent to 100 coffees. He is aiming to raise about $1000 next year by extending the length of the appeal.
Donations and coffee orders can be made by contacting Brad's Coffee at 0448 903 108.
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