Charity on track

By Tania Martin
A WANDIN family is continuing to hold a light for Magdalene (Maggie) McCallum to keep her dream of raising awareness for kidney failure alive.
They have joined forces with Puffing Billy Railway to raise cash for research for the Magdalene Foundation.
Maggie lost her life, not to kidney disease as many expected but in a tragic car accident four years ago.
For years the McCallums watched Maggie battle kidney failure and never expected that it would be a car accident that would take her life.
Maggie was 18 when she was killed in May 2004 after the car she was travelling in collided with a tree.
At the time she was finally living a trouble-free and healthy life.
Maggie had battled kidney problems for years and at 16 had received a vital transplant.
Her mother, Rosemary sacrificed one of her kidneys for the light of her life.
“Maggie was doing really well and wanted to raise awareness and money for kidney research for kids,” she said.
Maggie’s health first started to decline when she was just nine years old.
She was diagnosed with a rare auto-immune disease which attacks vital organs including the kidneys, heart and lungs.
Mrs McCallum said Maggie was only lucky that it was just her kidney that was affected by the disorder.
After having the transplant, Maggie dedicated her life to raising awareness of the lack of kids’ kidney research.
This beautiful young bright star was already well on her way to realising her dream when the accident happened.
Maggie was getting ready to take up her first modelling shoot with an Italian magazine when she died.
The shoot was a part of a wish granted to Maggie through the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
“Maggie thought she could make a lot of money out of modelling … she was really excited,” Mrs McCallum said.
Mrs McCallum said the foundation needs to raise $80,000 each year to help fund a researcher.
She said it was not only important to raise cash for research but to warn parents that it could happen to anyone.
“As parents you never dream anything can happen to your child,” Ms McCallum said.
“But when it happens, it turns your whole world upside down.”
Puffing Billy is offering the use of one of its trains next Sunday 21 September with all funds raised going towards the foundation.
Volunteer driver Emile Badawy approached the railway and was pleasantly surprised when the organisation agreed to help.
“It was great to see them coming to the party for such a great cause,” he said.
Tickets are now on sale and cost $30 for adults, $15 for children and $60 for families.
Anyone wanting to make a booking can call Tracy on 0433 956 261.