The Sunshine Beach Surf Club will host a special charity lunch on Friday 6 September, dedicated to raising funds for Smart Pups Assistance Dogs — a local charity that transforms the lives of children with special needs and their families.
The average cost to train and care for a Smart Pup is $50,000 and the process takes between 12 – 18 months, before they can become certified medical assistance dogs.
Smart Pups receives very little government funding and relies on the generosity of the community and corporate sponsors.
The luncheon will feature an impressive lineup of celebrities and special guests to support this incredible cause.
Karl Stefanovic will be the event’s MC, joined by his wife Jasmine.
Esteemed guests include Dawn Fraser AC MBE, Olympic swimming champion; Anthony Bell OAM, Sydney to Hobart Winner and founder of the LOYAL Foundation; Rodger McCall, former Wallabies rugby union player; Michael O’Connor is an Australian former rugby league and rugby union footballer who represented Australia in both codes.
Plus legendary Australian actor Travis Fimmel, Australian actor and former model, known for his role as Ragnar Lothbrok in the History Channel television series Vikings , and most recently award winning Boy Swallows Universe.
The luncheon aims to raise $50,000 for Smart Pups Assistance Dogs, which will help provide these life-changing companions to children like fourteen-year-old Hamish McMurtry.
Hamish, who is on the autism spectrum and largely non-verbal, was matched with Smart Pup Boots, a calm and intuitive Golden Retriever in 2018. Since their pairing, Boots has provided comfort and security to Hamish, reducing his repetitive behaviours and preventing meltdowns.
The positive impact on Hamish’s ability to communicate has been remarkable, and the bond between them has brought peace of mind to the entire McMurtry family.
Elijah Starr, another child awaiting his Smart Pup ‘Chips,’ will also be in attendance with his family.
At four years old, Elijah has level three autism, global developmental delay (GDD), and an intellectual disability.
He is non-verbal, which exacerbates his anxiety and poses significant challenges in stressful situations.
Smart Pup Trainee ‘Chips’ the support dog is currently being trained to be Elijah’s emotional anchor during these anxious moments, potentially saving his life by preventing him from harm in dangerous settings.
Smart Pups Assistance Dogs specialise in training Labradors and Golden Retrievers, carefully bred and selected for their roles as assistance dogs.
These Smart Pups can be trained to detect low blood sugar and seizures up to 10 minutes before they occur, use scent tracking to find children who abscond and assist children in wheelchairs open doors, pick up dropped objects and more.
Smart Pups and host, the Sunshine Beach Surf Club, extends its gratitude to the local businesses supporting this event, including Beach Break, Heads of Noosa, Dr Felicity Adams, Travla Beer, Asahi Premium Beverages, and Sunshine Beach Surf Club. Their contributions have been vital in making this fundraiser a success.
Attendees will not only be surrounded by sporting legends and Australian television and film royalty, but will also hear inspiring stories from families about the journey with their children with Smart Pups, and have the opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of children with special needs.
Event details:
Date: Friday 6 September
Time: 12pm
Location: Sunshine Beach Surf Club
