Good Friday Appeal House brings smiles to faces

THIS year’s Good Friday Appeal Charity Home is gearing up to go under the hammer next weekend where all proceeds will be donated to the Royal Children’s Hospital.

As excitement builds over the house’s auction, kids from the Royal Children’s Hospital were joined by players from the Geelong Cats AFLW team, Geelong Cougars and Western United Football Club for an afternoon of smiles.

 

Mount Duneed carpenter Jake Murrell, and father of Royal Children’s Hospital patient Evan Murrell, spent some of his time working on the house.

“I did the fix out stage, me and another carpenter, we did half the house each, so it would have taken me five to six days to do it by myself. We just worked together as a team.

“Helping out the GFA house project is one way I can give back.

 

“Being part of something that supports families like ours reminds me of the incredible strength Evan shows every day.

“He inspires me to do what I can to support others.”

Evan has a rare genetic disorder called X-linked hypophosphatemia which is a phosphate deficiency impacting bones and teeth, requiring him to have antibody injections every two weeks.

 

Mr Murrell said Evan has been to the hospital at least 12 times and is still a patient there.

“They’ve been really supportive when we’ve been there. Evan has had to do injections and blood tests and X-rays, bone density scans and it’s good when you’re there, they’re all very supportive.

“It’s a better environment for kids as opposed to a normal hospital and they have therapists there so when he was first getting injections, they were there to support Evan, have toys and videos.”

 

The house, named the Juno 442-D48, is a double-storey four-bedroom home, complete with a theatre, wine room, retreat and alfresco spaces.

The auction will be held outside the Mount Duneed property on April 18 at no reserve.