If you go out in the woods today you’re sure of a big surprise. If you go out in the woods today you’d better go in disguise. For every bear that ever there was will gather there for certain, because today’s the day the teddy bears have their picnic.
Over 200 people gathered at St Edward’s School last Sunday to come together for the Wild family for the Teddy Bears Picnic for Ellie. Ellie was diagnosed with T Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia on the 14th September 2018 and was admitted into Westmead Children’s Hospital that afternoon.
The Wild family packed up for what they thought would be a month long visit and have been in Sydney ever since.
Early estimates are that thousands of dollars were raised via donations and a raffle on the day. The raffle winners were Sam O’Malveney, Lorne Burgess, Spencer Markcrow and Scarlett Stanbury. As well as money there were a lot of household goods donated that Barry Traves (Ellie’s Grandfather) will take to Ronald McDonald House this Friday.
The organising team would like to thank Alikinetic Dance for performing, the Lions Club for donating the Jumping Castle, Mackenzie Lazarou, Georgia Cole and Georgia Grenfell for Face Painting, Kyra Fisher, Amelia Earsman and Leah Troy for painting fingernails. A huge thank you to the businesses who donated raffle items including Montrose House, Deli Lama, Trading Post, Just Keep Swimming and David Isbester Gallery.
Father Laurie led the crowd in a prayer for Ellie and Principal of St Edward’s School Mr Ken McNamara read out a letter from Ellie’s parents Rachelle and Adam. Rachelle and Adam’s letter to the Canowindra Community is below…
Thank you to everyone at St Eddies for organising this special day and everything that you have done for us. Especially for letting us borrow your superstar Secretary (Anne Traves) on such short notice. She’s been our rock and we promise we’ll return her soon. The support we have received from our families, friends, community, charities and even strangers has been incredible.
We are so thankful to be surrounded by such caring people. Over the last 10 weeks we have experienced a roller coaster of emotions. Watching our little girl go through such intensive treatments has surely been the most difficult time of our lives, but her strength and courage has helped us to stay positive,
have faith and remain grateful for her chance to fight for a cure.
While our time away from home has been tough, Ronald McDonald House Westmead has allowed us to stay as a family; making meal times, bed times and family time as normal as possible for us. We feel so lucky to have this opportunity. Ellie has been in hospital most of this time but is now enjoying time with her family in Ronald McDonald House while she receives treatment 4 days a week.
For the next 10 months we will continue to support our baby girl in Sydney while she fights Leukaemia and later receives a bone marrow transplant from the bravest little brother in the world.
We ask that Ellie and our family stay in your prayers during this time.
Kind Regards,
Adam and Rachelle Wild