Geelong West Fire Brigade were paid a special visit by one of this year’s Faces of the Good Friday Appeal.
Lara’s Emily Cooke and her family met the brigade, sprayed a firehose and went through the paces of what it’s like to be a firefighter on Wednesday, March 27, ahead of this Friday, March 29.
Mother Allison said she first noticed something was wrong when her three-and-a-half-month-old daughter would catch herself on the sides of doorways and wasn’t developing speech as usual.
The now 10-year-old was diagnosed with ganglioglioma (a form of brain tumour) in her brain stem and has received treatment at the Royal Children’s Hospital for the last five years.
“She (Emily) is in the best possible place for her to be so that she can have the best possible outcome,” Ms Cooke said.
“Having Emily in the hospital and being treated; there’s lots of highs and lots of lows, but they have the most amazing staff with access to the most amazing research and equipment.”
Country Fire Authority (CFA) volunteers will be out in full force across the state on Good Friday, and funds raised will help deliver the best possible care to patients and their families.
District Seven commander Gavin Fitzgerald said it was wonderful to have Emily visit the brigade and love teaching her the firefighting ropes alongside other members.
“For us it’s humbling but also inspiring to meet someone as young as Emily with such strength of character but also resilience, which is something that we as firefighters aspire too,” he said.
“CFA volunteers not only save lives and protect the community, but they will be out on Friday on street corners, traffic lights, caravan parks, and football ovals.
“(They will be) giving up their time as they always do to support the Royal Children’s Hospital so that doctors and staff can support the children who really are our future.”
Emily said one of her favourite parts of the day was spraying the hose, and she encouraged everyone to give what they could to the Good Friday Appeal.
“If you see some firefighters on Good Friday, make sure you give them some change,” she said.
It is the 50th year that the Geelong community has been fundraising, having raised $7,209,093.35 in that time.
Visit goodfridayappeal.com.au to donate to the Good Friday Appeal or call 1300 APPEAL between 9am and 11pm tomorrow, March 29.
