Central Coast Kids in Need are a small volunteer group of approximately 20 members, with no paid employees. They get no government assistance and are a not for profit organisation established 29 years ago. Central Coast Kids in Need assist local families with accommodation costs to stay with their sick children while undergoing specialised treatment in Sydney/Newcastle hospitals.
They also assist with high cost prescription items, specialised formula’s quality of life equipment and travel expenses.
A large proportion of these children are cancer patients, premi babies with life threatening health issues, bone marrow transplants, organ transplants, spina bifida, cystic fibrosis, Autism and ADHD and children with disabilities. They run two programs;
RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE ACCOMMODATION AND TRAVEL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
Accommodation is very limited within the hospitals, with accommodation at Ronald McDonald Houses costing between $65 to $120 per night, a majority of the time they put families up in private accommodation and are paying up to $165 per night or $600 per week.
Some children are in the hospital for months on end and this can put an enormous financial strain on families as they go from 2 salaries with one parent staying with the sick child whilst the other continues to work, visiting where possible. They also pay travel costs for these trips and subsequent visits after the child has been released from hospitals and have to attend clinics for treatment.
They rely on Social Workers to introduce these families to our organisation. They don’t means test families as they still have every day living expenses such as mortgages, rates, insurances and utility bills to pay.
BORN TO LIVE PROGRAM
A unique program which assists child cancer patients, children with organ transplants and premature babies with life threatening issues, seriously ill children, children with Autism and ADHD, children with disabilities with high cost prescription items, specialised formula’s, quality of life equipment and oxygen accounts. Many of these children are on Compounding Medications which are not covered under the NHS so are very costly between $55- $80 per script. Currently they have 209 Pharmacy Accounts.
These children don’t choose to be born with long term health issues and chronic illness or disabilities, so they endeavour to improve their quality of life where possible.
The Wyong Roos Foundation have been the major benefactor of the Born to Live Program since 2017 and
in that time we have donated funds totalling in excess of $275,000-00. They would struggle to continue to deliver this unique program without our continued support.
Over the past 18 years they have outlaid in excess of
$4.4 million and assisted in excess of 3642 Central Coast families as you can see from the figures below the demand for assistance is every increasing. They have gone from assisting 38 families in 2005/06 to 278 families in 2021/22.
