By JESSE GRAHAM
A GROUP of Healesville students has organised a school-wide event and raised almost $1000 to give a dying girl a final birthday celebration.
Tyarra Kidd, an 18-year-old student at Healesville High School, along with sisters Kristin and Shaye and a number of other students at the school, held a fundraising event at lunchtime on Thursday 17 October.
The event, which included free dress, music, a sausage sizzle, along with slushies and cupcakes for sale, was to raise money for Tyarra’s terminally ill five-year-old cousin, Charli.
Charli was diagnosed with stage-four neuroblastoma, a common form of childhood cancer, in July, and is not expected to live past Christmas.
“I was talking to a few people, and they said ‘why don’t we do a fundraiser?’,” she said.
“We thought we could do it through the school, and get that community involved, so we spoke to the principal and did it.”
Tyarra said that she was hoping to raise about $500 to use for Charli’s sixth birthday in November, with any leftover money going to the girl for anything she wants.
Through the fundraising event, Healesville High School managed to raise $953.90 for Charli’s birthday.
The event had been worked out on a low budget, with Yarra Ranges Council’s Youth Services team coming to the school to supply music and slushies and Healesville High School’s Lynn Scotchmore organising the sausages and bread for the event.
Tyarra said the school’s response to the event had been great, and that the total sum would be going to Charli.
“Everyone’s been really supportive,” she said.
“It’s all worked out really well.”
