THE Corrigin community raised more than $65,500 for Ronald McDonald House at the Team Leo Auction night in late July.
Combined with previous fundraising efforts from during the year, it takes the total raised to more than $110,000 spread over three charities.
All in the name of one incredibly brave little boy, Leo Baker.
As featured in the July edition of Ripe, Leo’s family, parents Keren and Juan and siblings Mollie, Jebediah and Ellie, were devastated when Leo was diagnosed with a rare childhood cancer, Neuroblastoma, in June last year.
The community felt their pain, particularly Leo’s godmother Kellie Bell and her family, and they were overwhelmed with a sense of desperately wanting to help in any way they could.
So began an amazing journey for the Corrigin community, which has resulted in the mammoth fundraising effort as well as the ongoing blood donation drive.
The Red25 Team Leo blood donation group has seen more than 100 donations to date, which has contributed to saving more than 300 lives in WA.
Unfortunately, Leo lost his battle, passing away on Sunday night.
Leo’s determination and bravery inspired the heart-broken community, which clearly shone through at the team Leo Auction.
The auction day began as planned with 10 students from the year 5/6 class at Corrigin Primary School completing their charity bike ride from Bullaring to Corrigin.
When the July Ripe went to print, the boys had raised $750 for the Kids Cancer Project but by the end of the ride they managed to raise an impressive $13,684.
That total shot up to almost $15,000 after local lad Flynn Bolt made $1000 by shaving his head on the night.
Initial expectations from the auction were around the $15,000 mark, with an impressive array of items donated to the cause including sporting memorabilia, fine jewellery and even a drone.
With around 250 people attending the auction night, that estimate was blown out of the water, as the bids come in thick and fast, and the total raised for Ronald McDonald House skyrocketed to than $65,500.
When combined with $20,276 already raised for Ronald McDonald House and $9318 raised for the Kids Cancer Support Group, Team Leo has raised more than $110,000 this year.
Kellie said she was overwhelmed by what the community had managed to achieve, as were the Baker family.
“When you see a community come together to achieve something great without any personal benefit, it’s an incredible thing to see and be a part of,” Kellie said.
“Everything we have achieved has exceeded my initial expectations and it makes me feel like I’m doing something to help, and hopefully Keren, Juan and the kids can look around and see that everyone is doing this because we love them and want to support them.
“It’s all stemmed from people wanting to be part of something bigger than themselves and bigger than our community, it’s for Leo, but it’s also for the next country kid that needs that support to get them through probably the toughest time in their lives.
“Childhood cancer research is majorly underfunded, we need to direct more money into this vital area of research and we know that now more than ever.”
