‘Comrades’ dig deep for Lachie

ALTONA workers at Qenos plastics manufacturer have dug deep, raising more than $20,000 for worthy causes, including $15,000 for three-year-old leukaemia sufferer Lachie Lord.

Lachie’s father Darryl Lord and grandfather Kevin Hehir (pictured) last week accepted a $15,000 cheque from the CFMEU, raised by all workers.

“It’s a hard situation our family faces and to have people we don’t know show that they care means so much,” Mr Lord said.

“We are so grateful for this. Because of his condition, Lachie can’t really play with other kids so we are going to use the money for a cubby and other things around the house to improve his quality of life.”

CFMEU shop steward Andrew Brodie said workers had been running raffles and putting in $50 a week.

He said “comrades” who had lost their jobs and remained out of work had pitched in $1550. Other unions had helped raise the money.

“We have also donated $4650 to a young martial arts champion, Rachel McIntosh, to help her travel to tournaments interstate and overseas, and money to a local elderly couple dealing with a family illness,” Mr Brodie said.