Creswick North Primary School Grade 4 pupil Reace Petrie celebrates his fundraising efforts for Ballarat Cystic Fibrosis in memory of his mum with Nicole Mackintosh of Ballarat CF and his grandmother Adel Petrie. PICTURE: JEREMY BANNISTER
EVERY birthday Reace Petrie has closed his eyes and made a wish for his mum.
This year marks the one year anniversary since his mother Lorinda passed away from cystic fibrosis, so instead of wishing for new lungs or for her to get better, Reace chose to wish for money to be raised to help others with the disease.
Elected as a member on the junior school council at Creswick North Primary School, the 10-year-old rallied fellow pupils together to raise funds to go to Ballarat Cystic Fibrosis. His goal was to raise $200.
Yesterday, all of the funds were tallied and a total of $400 was donated to helping Ballarat people with cystic fibrosis – double the goal amount.
The Grade 4 pupil couldn’t believe the amount of support the school community provided. “Its been really fun working with the junior school council this year,” he said.
For Ballarat CF member Nicole Mackintosh a donation like this makes a world of difference.
“It’s a huge support for us in Ballarat who have to travel to Melbourne and stay down there for all our treatments,” Ms Mackintosh said.
“Lorinda would be so proud of Reace. She was one who lived life to the fullest and was always thinking of others and Reace is like that too.”
One of two teachers on junior school council, Kathy Kirby said the the fundraiser was a great thing for the Petrie family, Ballarat CF and the school community.
“The junior school council has worked really hard to raise the funds and to support Reace’s idea and his family,” she said.
