Torquay’s Belle Strahan is calling on the Surf Coast community to help support sick kids as Torquay’s 2025 Good Friday Appeal (GFA) ambassador.
The 15-year-old has been a Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) patient for her whole life after she was born with several heart defects and a single kidney.
Belle said the staff and volunteers from RCH did an “incredible job” and wanted to help give back to the hospital for the care it provided her.
“It makes me happy to be able to give something back to the RCH which does such valuable, life-saving work,” she said.
“Please join me in providing much needed funds to ensure the RCH is able to continue providing excellent care to kids into the future.”
Belle and her family get involved in fundraising for the GFA each year and have raised more than $20,000 for the RCH’s GFA and Heart Kids Australia over 15 years.
Mum Karen Strahan said she was grateful to RCH for looking after her daughter, who was currently “in great health”.
“Belle was transferred to the Children’s Hospital as a newborn and was expected to have surgery soon after,” she said.
“However, she responded extremely well to a drug called Prostaglandin E1 and, to date, hasn’t needed cardiac surgery, which is fantastic.
“Belle has continued having regular cardiology and renal tests and check-ups with her specialists from the Royal Children’s and her Geelong-based paediatrician.
“In recent years, Belle has been able to have check-ups with her RCH cardiologist at Geelong University Hospital which saves us significant travel time and makes the process stress-free.”
Visit fundraise.goodfridayappeal.com.au/fundraisers/Torquay for more information and to donate to the GFA.
