A Newport couple whose son was diagnosed with diabetes as a toddler will hold a fund-raiser for the Royal Children’s Hospital’s (RCH) Good Friday Appeal.
Enza Parisi-Irgl says it’s her family’s way of giving back to the hospital that helped their son, Marcus, now aged six.
“Marcus has type 1 diabetes. This is our way of acknowledging the hospital.
“As an 18-month-old, he got an ear infection. He was just drinking all this water. I had no idea what type 1 diabetes was.
“He just wasn’t himself and he was losing a lot of weight really quickly. After a couple of trips to the GP, we realised it was probably diabetes.
“We were there [at the RCH] for seven nights and our life changed from there.
“He’s insulin-dependent so he was getting two injections a day. We’re now on an insulin pump through the hospital so that makes it a lot easier for him and us to manage.”
More than 120,000 children and adults in Australia have the disease, and the number grows each year.
Since it started in 1931, the Good Friday appeal has raised more than $258 million for equipment, research and education, all benefiting the Royal Children’s.
Ms Parisi-Irgl, manager of the Inspirational Health and Fitness gym in Altona North, says the fund-raiser will involve a sausage sizzle, “fish fingers for the Catholics”, a silent auction, raffle, and children’s activities.
All goods and services on the day have been donated by residents. People will even be able to get a haircut, mini-manicure, massage and physio checks.
Entry is $5, with children under 12 admitted free.
In the past three years, the gym has raised more than $21,000 for the appeal.
» The fund-raiser is on Good Friday from 9am-2pm at 6/216 Blackshaws Road, Altona North. Details: 9391 3881
