Wanted: 100 wheelchairs for Westmead precinct

How many sausages does it take to make a wheelchair?

The answer is – a heck of a lot!

Westmead Hospital approached Westmead Medical Research Foundation (WMRF) for help in replacing 100 general purpose wheelchairs, which are used daily throughout the Westmead Medical Precinct.

WMRF is working with a number of partners to meet that request, and first to start the ball rolling were the Lions Club of Holroyd with a very generous donation of $15,000.

Club President Peter Lake said much of their fundraising comes from community barbecues.

And it takes a lot of sausages to be able to make such a generous donation: Lions members have lost count of how many bread rolls they have halved, how many onions they have sliced, and how many sausages the have barbecued over the past year.

WMRF’s head of development Joe Conneely and relationship manager Alison Whittaker received the impressive cheque from Mr Lake at a board meeting and dinner earlier this month.

The wheelchairs provide a valuable service to patients such as expectant mums, patients receiving debilitating treatments such as chemotherapy, and patients at Westmead’s Emergency Department.

WMRF is still looking for donations from businesses, community groups and individuals to be able to meet that target of 100 wheelchairs.  If you would like to help, please contact Alison Whittaker on 9845 9019, or email alison.whittaker@wmrf.org.au for more information.

Lions Australia is Australia’s largest service club with more than 1200 clubs in Australia and Papua New Guinea.  2017 is a very special year: it is celebrating 100 years since Melvin Jones formed the very first Lions club with a view to improving the community.

Holroyd Lions has a barbecue every Friday at Bunnings Villawood, so if you would like a taste of a superior sausage, pop down and say hello.  More information can be found at http://www.e-clubhouse.org/sites/holroydcitynswau/ or by contacting holroydcitylionsclub@gmail.com