SIX-year-old Aria Bahnemann will take a stand for local sick kids, becoming the face of this year’s Woolworths Easter Fundraising Appeal to raise funds for the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation.
Once a bubbly and outgoing young girl, Aria became shy, anxious and afraid to talk to people after being diagnosed with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in early 2022.
Taking one step at a time throughout her treatment, she gradually built her strength back up. Aria completed chemotherapy at Queensland Children’s Hospital in December 2022.
“Relocating our life to Brisbane to ensure Aria could get the best treatment had a massive impact on our family,” recalled Aria’s mum, Jess.
“You always think about what could happen, but Aria is slowly returning to the little girl she was before treatment. She laughs more and spends time with her best friend.”
Aria’s family has since returned home to Cairns.
Aria is now taking on a new challenge as the Far North Queensland ambassador of the Woolworths Easter Fundraising Appeal, inspiring others to help sick kids through donating to the Children’s Hospital Foundation.
Since 2016, local Woolworths customers have raised $144, 285 for sick and injured Far North Queensland kids through the annual Easter Fundraising Appeal.
Children’s Hospital Foundation CEO Lyndsey Rice is thrilled to see the return of the Woolworths Easter Fundraising Appeal, to help change the lives of sick and injured kids across the state.
“Money raised from the Easter Fundraising Appeal helps us fund vital research, life-saving equipment and patient and family support services for sick Far North Queensland kids, with all donations going towards the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation and local hospital services,” Ms Rice said.
The funds have helped Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation purchase overnight beds and chairs for parents in the paediatric ward and support the Deadly Heart Trek – a program that aims to educate and monitor rheumatic heart disease in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
“Whether it is Cairns, Mount Isa or Brisbane, we want families to know that their critically ill child will receive the best possible care and treatment when facing the uncertainties of a medical diagnosis,” Ms Rice added.
“A $2 donation on check-out can make a huge impact for sick kids and we are incredibly humbled to have the support of the Woolworths community once again in 2023.”
Woolworths General Manager in Queensland, Danny Baldwin, said: "Since launching the Easter Appeal in 2016, our Queensland customers continue to exceed expectations in their generous and steadfast support of organisations like the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation.”
“Our Easter Appeal is a great example of how a little good can add up and have a huge impact on the lives of sick kids and their families across the state, just like Aria.”
Woolworths customers will be able to purchase a $2 egg-shaped wall token or make a donation to the Children’s Hospital Foundation to benefit the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation at all Woolworths stores across Far North Queensland from March 22 to April 11, 2023.
