Larn’s amazing race raises funds for sick kids

FOR the past six years, Larn Anderson, owner and manager of LA Movement in north Torquay, has run her ‘Amazing Race’ raising much-needed dollars for the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal.

Along with her husband Luca, the pair have a special reason to support the appeal now, but continue to hold gym events on support of other causes.

“We have boys Alby (five), and Odie (three), with another boy expected in a few weeks,” Larn said.

“But it was Odie who was born with orofacial defects that linked us strongly with the Children’s Hospital.

“Odie’s facial problems were diagnosed when I was 13 weeks pregnant, which was quite a shock to Lucas and me.

“Following his birth, Odie spent a week in special care at University Hospital Geelong before being transferred to the Royal Children’s Hospital.”

At the Children’s Hospital, Odie had surgery on his lip at six months, then on his palate when he was 12 months old.

This is where Larn’s link with the hospital strengthened.

“The hospital has been absolutely wonderful to us,” she said.

“Following Odie’s operations, we visited the hospital frequently to ensure his progress was following the norm.

“Those visits are now out to three monthly intervals because of regular contact between our speech pathologist in Torquay and the specialist staff at the Children’s Hospital.”

The Amazing Race is a Good Friday Appeal annual event aiming to raise $5,000 per race.

In three years, LA Movement’s contribution to the appeal has raised a total of $14,540.

Larn believes other gyms in the Torquay region could also organise an event to raise funds for the Royal Children’s Hospital.

“Almost everyone attending gyms in this area has some connection with the Children’s Hospital, or could have in the future,” she said.

“Our kids are so well looked after, and now care is being spread to the regions enabling the excellence of care at the kids’ hospital to be brought closer to the children in this region.”

Any organisation or individual interested in supporting the Good Friday Appeal can phone the volunteer area manager, Peter McMahon, on 0411 112 047 or send an email to [email protected]

McMahon said setting up an online fundraising page is easy to do online.

“Please help by giving whatever you can to this fundraiser and help spread the word by sharing this page with your friends, family and networks,” he said.

“Whatever you can give, we greatly appreciate, and I thank you for your generosity. It means a lot!”

For more information, head to fundraise.goodfridayappeal.com.au/fundraisers/Torquay

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