Ollie steps out as Good Friday Appeal ambassador

FOUR-year-old Oliver (Ollie) Wedding has been revealed as the face of this year’s Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal.

Ollie had the lower part of his leg amputated in 2016 when he was just 18 months old, following a diagnosis of fibular hemimelia during gestation. He was born with part of his right leg missing its fibular, an ankle structure that wasn’t fully formed, and only two toes. The rare condition occurs once in every 40,000 births.

Despite facing daily adversity, Ollie’s determination continues to shine through and has never let a challenge stop him. He began crawling, pulling himself up and walking on his leg – just like any toddler would – thanks to the support of the Hospital.

While Ollie continues to grow, he will have appointments at the Hospital approximately every six months to have his prostheses reviewed. As he grows, new legs will be made for everyday use and sporting activities. At each appointment, Ollie sees his prosthetist and the hospital’s Limb Difference Team who support him to hit targets for his age group and assess any goals he has.

Good Friday Appeal director Anne Randall is touched by Ollie’s story and expressed her appreciation of the ongoing support of the community, which has helped children like him.

“Thanks to the generous donations from the community through the Good Friday Appeal, The Royal Children’s Hospital remains a world-class facility that is able to provide exceptional care,” she said.

“The ongoing support from the community will enable children like Ollie to receive support now and for many years to come, as patients of the hospital.”

This year across Victoria, thousands of volunteers and supporters will hold fundraising activities and collect donations for the children supported by the 2019 Good Friday Appeal.

At the centre of the activity is the telethon, broadcast live on Channel 7 from the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, where the Kids Day Out will provide family fun and entertainment for about 100,000 visitors.

For more information on the appeal, head to goodfridayappeal.com.au.