Tag: fundraiser

Eatons Hill Unite for Family Left with Nothing After Blaze

An Eatons Hill family with three children is starting again after a house fire destroyed their home and car, and the community is moving quickly to help the parents, Terry and Jess, get back on their feet.

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The family’s verified GoFundMe fundraiser went live on August 6, 2025, created by a relative, Leah, to cover urgent needs such as temporary housing, clothing, food and school supplies.

Reports say the blaze tore through the family’s Eatons Hill home within minutes, taking treasured belongings along with everyday essentials and their vehicle. The fundraiser explains that everyone made it out safely, but the loss was near total. It sets out simple aims: keep the children settled, replace basics and help the family rebuild step by step.

Schools and Neighbours Step In

Two of the children, Isabella and Layla, attend Albany Creek State High, and their younger brother is a student at Samford State School. In a message to families, Albany Creek State High invited the school community to contribute and share the fundraiser so help reaches the people who need it most.

Photo Credit: Albany Creek State High School/Facebook

Neighbours also amplified the call, encouraging residents in Eatons Hill and nearby suburbs to spread the word and donate if they can.

How You Can Help

Donations through the verified GoFundMe will go toward accommodation, clothing, food, school needs and other essentials while the family secures stable housing and begins to replace what was lost. If giving isn’t possible, sharing the fundraiser with friends, local groups and sports clubs can still make a real difference by keeping support flowing.

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This story is about more than a fire. It is about a suburb pulling together so children can return to class with what they need and parents can focus on the next steps. School posts and community shares show a clear message: when hardship hits in Eatons Hill, people look out for one another .

Published 20-Aug-2025

Albany Creek Student’s Rare Cancer Battle Inspires Community Fundraiser

Albany Creek student Katie Jones’ life took a dramatic turn last year when what began as intermittent neuropathic nerve pain and back discomfort evolved into a devastating diagnosis.

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The 21-year-old’s journey to diagnosis was fraught with challenges. Despite consulting multiple GPs and even a physiologist who deemed her case the worst instance of neuropathy-related nerve pain, the true nature of her condition remained elusive.

It wasn’t until an MRI revealed a tumour that the gravity of her situation became apparent.

Rare Cancer
Photo credit: Mart Production/Pexels

The young student’s ordeal highlights the importance of persistence in seeking medical answers. After visiting several hospitals without a clear diagnosis, Katie’s current oncologist finally broke the news of a malignant tumour, though the specific type of cancer continues to puzzle medical professionals.

In the face of this uncertainty, Katie has undergone a gruelling treatment regimen. Her twin sister, Rebecca, who organised the fundraiser, shared that Katie has endured eight months of intensive chemotherapy, 31 radiation sessions, and multiple hospital admissions due to treatment complications. Most recently, she is recovering from major vascular surgery.

“We watched as she went from lifting weights at the gym to having paralysis in her leg and being unable to walk within a week,” she revealed. “Seeing her in excruciating pain was unbearable as a family.”

The road ahead for Katie is daunting. She faces a major surgery that will leave her permanently disabled and unable to walk, fundamentally altering her life. The procedure will require significant time in the hospital, including recovery in the ICU, followed by additional chemotherapy.

The financial strain on the family has been considerable. Katie’s mother has reduced her work hours, while Rebecca has quit her job entirely to support her sister during this challenging time.

A fundraiser has been laumched to help Katie and her family. The initiative aims to alleviate some of the financial burdens, covering costs such as medications, hospital parking, meals for the family, and essential mobility aids like a wheelchair, knee scooter, and crutches.

Those wishing to support Katie and her family in this difficult time are encouraged to contribute to the fundraiser via GoFundMe, helping to ease the financial burden of her ongoing treatment and recovery.

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Katie’s story is a poignant reminder of the unpredictability of life and the strength of the human spirit. It also underscores the critical role of community support in times of crisis. As Katie continues her fight against this rare cancer, her courage and determination serve as an inspiration to all who hear her story.

Published 6-July-2024