Heartfelt toy drive brings joy to kids in hospital

A TORQUAY mother has given the gift of joy to more than 100 hospitalised children currently battling illness.

The Royal Children’s Hospital was inundated with gifts last month as the annual Love from Lenny toy drive wrapped up for another year.

Ran by local woman Lauren Henwood, the toy drive provided up to 150 presents to ill children in honour of her late son.

While Lenny lost his fight with cancer at only 16 months old, his birthday has been celebrated by hundreds of kids in the past few years who face similar battles.

“I’m not sure exactly how many presents this year, I think at least 100-150, which considering there are about 32 beds on each ward it is quite a lot of little people who received gifts,” Ms Henwood said.

“The gifts were really beautiful this year too, the quality was lovely, so they are really special gifts.”

In its third year running, the Love from Lenny toy drive extended its reach by accessing the support of businesses including Torquay Pharmacy which became a collection point for local toy donations.

Under the partnership with Koala Kids, the drive also attracted support from Kawaii Kids in Horsham and Toy Workshop in Sorrento, who provided discounts on toys purchased for the charity.

The gifts were scheduled to be handed out on what would have been Lenny’s fourth birthday but due to re-emergence of COVID-19 cases the gifts were required to quarantine for five days at the hospital prior to being distributed on February 27.

“The staff there helped us celebrate Lenny’s only birthday, turning one, during a stem cell transplant, the last day he ever crawled or really smiled and giggled,” Ms Henwood said. “His birthday holds a very special place in our hearts, more so, because it was his last day of being ‘him’.”

Previously Ms Henwood was concerned the drive would not be able to continue during the pandemic, however COVIDSafe measures were implemented throughout the collection period including only accepting packaged toys and contactless deliveries.

“It was quite intimate this year,” she said.

“I do think the year that we’ve had affected people’s ability to join. Most of the people who did donate were really invested emotionally in wanting to make a child smile.”

Ms Henwood and the Koala Kids organisation have already received emails of gratitude from parents of sick children.

“Our little person is having a second stint in the Royal Children’s Hospital since being diagnosed with leukaemia four weeks ago,” one mother wrote.

“It’s been such a rough patch for such a little person and the gift has brightened her up and whiled away some long days.”

Ms Henwood said is extremely appreciative to the members of the community who showed support.

“All-in-all, a very successful toy drive in very challenging times,” she said. “Thank you to everyone who has supported the toy drive, contributed and holds Lenny in their heart.”