JIM FAGAN
Noosa has opened its heart to little Leo the Lionheart Ellis and the efforts by his mum and dad, Lisa and Campbell, to raise money to thank the charity, HeartKids Queensland which helped them through tough times at Brisbane’s Mater Hospital.
Two weeks ago we told how death was little more than a heartbeat away for the now 17-month old when he was born. Aware that Leo had a congenital heart defect and needed instant cardiac care, a standby specialist team at Brisbane’s Mater Hospital operated on him immediately so he could breathe. For baby Leo it was the start of five major operations, including open heart surgery that dogged the first five months of his young life. We also reported how Campbell and Lisa were staging a charity walk “Two Feet and a Heartbeat” this Saturday starting at 3pm from Lions Park followed by a barbecue and raffle draws. “We are doing this fundraiser just to try and pay them back for being there to help us. When you look at Leo now you wouldn’t know what he has gone through. He looks a very normal little boy now but his first six months were a really rocky road,” Lisa said. Initially, the couple thought they might raise $2000 but the overwhelming response following Noosa Today’s page 1 story means they now have their sights on $10,000 and, hopefully, more. “We have had some amazingly generous gift donations from the local businesses and local residents, which will be auctioned off at the Lions Park after the charity walk. These items include accommodation and dinner vouchers, gym memberships, artworks and a case of truly exquisite vintage shiraz. Said Lisa, “The raffles and auction will commence after the walk. We ask those joining then to please bring some extra cash for gold coin donations for the BBQ, and to bid on some of these additional prize items!! All proceeds will be donated to HeartKids.” For little Leo the fundraiser will be a chance to add another bead to his already extensive collection of heartbeads. These beads are provided to patients in hospital by HeartKids, with each distinctive bead representing a procedure, treatment or event. “The kids and their families can trace their unique journey through the string of beads,” said Lisa.“Heartbeads help enrich the experience for cardiac patients in children’s hospitals.”
The “Two Feet and a Heartbeat” Charity Walk will start at 3pm from Lions Park on Saturday, February 15 and will take in Hastings Street, along the boardwalk to Noosa National Park and back to Lions Park for a barbecue and raffle draws. Organisers have asked everyone wear something red, the HeartKids colour. Raffle tickets for prizes already totalling $3500 are available at Live Life pharmacies in Noosa Fair, Noosa Junction, Noosaville, Coolum Beach, Peregian Springs Shopping Centre, Amcal Pharmacies at Coolum Village and Noosa Village, Gibson Road, Noosaville as well as Noosa Heads Pharmacy, 32 Hastings Street, Noosa Heads. Donations can also be made at the pharmacies or online at HeartKids charity web page www.give.everydayhero.com/au/two-feet-and-a-heart-beat
