Albie the inspo behind 100km fundraising walk

EMMA Moore’s son Albie is the inspiration behind a 100km fundraising walk she will embark on tomorrow, which has already raised more than $11,600 for the Royal Children’s Hospital.

The mum-of-three will leave from the Leopold Sportsmans Club on Friday, March 19, and arrive at the hospital the following day, all in support of the RCH’s Colorectal and Pelvic Reconstruction Service.

Emma said Albie, who is now five, was born with an undiagnosed genetic disorder, one of many indicators being he was born missing the lower section of his bowel.

She said it was such an emotional and confusing time following his birth, as there were no support services available.

“There wasn’t even a handout that said, ‘this is what your child has’ despite him being one in 5000 babies born with imperforate anus/anorectal malformation (a serious condition which requires invasive surgical correction and lifelong management).”

Emma said Albie spent the first five weeks of his life at the Royal Children’s Hospital undergoing bowel and heart surgery.

“He has since spent many more months in hospital having endured further surgery on his bowel and heart, as well as surgeries on his stomach, ears and airway,” she said.

“Despite knowing Albie was very sick, we did not understand how much of an impact his bowel condition would have on his life.

“There weren’t the same resources available for bowel kids as what there are for other lifelong conditions, and it can make it hard to manage in those early days.”

This lack of support and awareness inspired Emma to create Albie’s Allies four years ago.

“He is my motivation,” Emma said.

“We started Albie’s Allies back when he was one just to give back to the services that had supported him, so Barwon Health and Kids Plus Foundation in Geelong, and the Royal Children’s Hospital.”

Emma said Albie’s Allies had organised a few fundraisers over the years, until COVID put a stop to that.

“But we were back at the hospital because Albie needed more surgery and I was chatting away and they were saying how underfunded they were,” she said.

“They said they couldn’t even develop resources to give to the community, like schools and kinders, which helped kids better understood other kids undergoing surgical correction, because it does impact their continence.

“So that’s when I got the insane idea to walk from home to the hospital to raise those funds, so here we are!”

Emma has already taken part in Run Geelong, which raises money for Barwon Health, and the Surf Coast Trek four times, but this walk will her biggest physical challenge.

Her husband Brett and their children Archie, Albie and Evie will start the first leg with her from the Leopold Sporties, while she will also walk through the grounds of Geelong Grammar School, where she works as a teacher, and students will join in too.

The fundraiser has raised more than $11,600 to date and businesses are invited to jump on board and sponsor a leg.

Some already supporting the cause include the Leopold Sporties, Villarosa Real Estate, Drysdale Clinic and Southern RV.

To support Emma and make a donation, head to mycause.com.au/page/242439/100kms-for-cprs-rch.

Also, the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal is only weeks away – head to goodfridayappeal.com.au to donate.