Port community and visitors unite to support Will’s Wish

WHEN Will Tasic isn’t feeling well and his family are having a tough time, they head to Portarlington, which they say is “the best medicine in the world”.

Will, 14, has a rare neurological condition called optical neuritis, which is caused by myelin oliogdendrecyte glycoprotein antibody positive.

He was diagnosed at age nine and will undergo his 15th MRI brain scan next week.

“Will felt like he had something in his eye and they told me it was a virus, and then we were rushed to the Royal Children’s Hospital and it took 11 hours to stabilise him,” mum Angie said.

“He had inflamed optic nerves so it was called optical neuritis, but then he relapsed a year later so now they say it is reoccurring.

“There are 138 children in Australia with the condition.”

Angie said Will suffered from a lot of headaches, nose bleeds and loss of vision, plus he was weak and battling an eating disorder due to a combination of issues surrounding his condition.

“Will is battling so much behind the scenes and he’s had so many tests and seen so many specialists and we haven’t paid a cent, and that’s why we give back, because it takes people like us and Australia to put money back into the hospital so they can keep seeing these kids,” she said.

Angie’s research found about 83,000 kids were treated by the hospital during 2018/2019 alone.

“And our child is just one, imagine the amount of money that needs to go through the hospital to fund these things, especially the kids who are rare,” she said.

This encouraged the Tasic family to create a fundraising group back in 2017.

Angie asked Will what he wished for. He replied: “I wish that kids didn’t have to feel like me, and families didn’t have to suffer” and Will’s Wish was born.

Angie and Vid, of Ballarat, have been camping at Bellarine Bayside Caravan Park for the past 23 years, and five years ago started raising money on Good Friday with a few friends and about 10 raffle prizes.

Fast forward to 2021 and they have about 100 raffle prizes, and family, friends and campers look forward to the day.

“The support has been amazing, it’s grown and keeps gaining momentum… it just keeps getting bigger and bigger,” she said.

The Tasic family has raised about $10,000 since Will’s Wish started, including $2,050 from an online raffle during the pandemic last year.

Funds have gone to the RCH and the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute.

Angie said the Portarlington community was incredibly important to their family, as they provided funds, support, kept their spirits up and
encouraged Will.

“We had a terrible year last year where my husband had a double heart bypass and blood transfusion, he was rushed to Melbourne in the first lockdown and we thought we were going to lose him, then six weeks to the day Will broke two arms, and then after that it was the middle of the year and we couldn’t wait to get to Portarlington,” she said.

“It’s the best medicine in the world… there is something about being outside, the sea and vitamin D, which is great for Will’s condition.

“We always look for the silver lining.”

Angie said Will was highly involved and excited about this Good Friday – looking forward to selling his Will’s Wish merchandise, meeting new people and seeing people smile and have fun.

Angie said she wanted to thank the Portarlington Community Bowls, as Will’s Wish was the recipient of a cheque at the end of the Barefoot Bowls Season.

“Thank you to the businesses that have always donated every year to the Good Friday fundraiser,” she said.

“We are also looking forward to working with the Portarlington Football and Netball Club, and Cricket Club this year.”

Angie also wanted to say a “massive thank you” to the Bellarine Bayside Caravan Park.

“Paul, Wayne and the team, from everyone in the management team to the office and the incredible park rangers, everyone is involved and ready and willing to help where they can,” she said.

“We can’t do what we do without them, we are just so grateful.”

Head down to Bellarine Bayside Caravan Park on Good Friday to support the cause, or follow “Will’s Wish” on Facebook.

From the heart of the city to the tiniest of towns, communities come together to generously support the RCH through the Good Friday Appeal.

In 2020, the Good Friday Appeal raised an incredible $18,200,000.

With the collection tin still at the heart of fundraising for the Appeal, and following the events of 2020, the traditional tin shake has been given a helping hand with the Virtual Tin Shake.

To support the Good Friday Appeal, head to goodfridayappeal.com.au.