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A Very Special Ladies Lunch on the Yarra
March 20, 2025
On Friday 14 March, breathtaking views of the Yarra River at Leonda by the Yarra provided a serene backdrop for a Very Special Ladies Lunch.
We’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our wonderful guests and sponsors who brought enthusiasm and passion to the vibrant afternoon, helping us raise an incredible $92,000 for children and young people with life-limiting conditions.
The ambiance was perfectly set by DJ Stefan Lewis and Sammy on Percussion, creating an atmosphere that eventually transformed the venue into a lively dance floor.
As glasses clinked and conversations flowed, The Champagne Dame offered a mesmerising spectacle of champagne artistry.
Event sponsor Runway Room added a personal touch of glamour at its beauty stations and skilled makeup artists offered complimentary touch ups.
After a true pampering experience guests were picture ready for the interactive 360 Event Reels photobooth, spinning and posing as if on a Hollywood red carpet.
Luncheon for a very special cause
A heartfelt thank you to Board member Lisa Evans and very special mum Kat who both shared their personal connection to Very Special Kids.
Kat shares, “Very Special Kids has offered us sanctuary peace and great connections. They have been there to help us create really beautiful memories. Very Special Kids is a part of a decision to live a mantra of an extraordinary life.“
Her son, 14-year-old Noah, who has mitochondrial disease, added his own special touch to the lunch with a short video.
Special mention also goes to TV presenter Elly Wicks who took to the stage as our MC and presenting partner Emma Lowe from Lowe Living. A big thank you to auctioneer Phil De Fegley who masterfully encouraged generous bidding throughout the lunch, helping us raise vital funds to support our holistic children’s palliative care services.
On top of supporting a very special cause, one lucky participant walked home with a 1ct emerald cut diamond. Hand-picked for Very Special Kids, accompanied by a $500 voucher towards a custom setting by Tallulah Design Jewellery.
None of this would have been possible without our presenting partner Lowe Living and event sponsor Runway Room, whose commitment to our cause made this spectacular day a reality. We’d also like to acknowledge the many in-kind supporters who made the day extra special including Cupcake Queens, The Palmier, and so many more.
Don’t miss out on another Very Special Ladies Lunch, reach out to Bec at events@vsk.org.au to express your interest for 2026!
We’ll be returning with even more glamour, meaningful moments and together we can support Very Special Kids crucial work for children and young people with life-limiting conditions.
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Top tips from a superstar fundraiser
January 31, 2025
In one month, 50 cyclists will saddle up for our inaugural Very Special Ride – a one-day 120km road ride in the Mornington Peninsula where riders will go the distance for the children and families supported by Very Special Kids.
We asked one of our top fundraisers Matt Tait from efm Logistics to share his key tips to help anyone shift their fundraising into gear.
Get your workplace on board
A lot of workplaces look for creative ways to demonstrate their corporate social responsibility. In Matt’s experience, there was a clear alignment with efm Logistics values, one of which is, “Together we make a difference.”
“The leadership is the key. They promote the ride in our monthly newsletters, and they supported each worksite to organise their own fundraising.”
At the Altona worksite, for example, employees held a BBQ and donated cash — an approach that resonated with the team as not everyone could donate online.
Send targeted emails
Most people will share their fundraising page on their LinkedIn, but Matt believes a targeted email can have a much deeper impact.
“I’ve built strong relationships with work contacts over the years, and I start by emailing people who I know will donate. Once they’ve donated, I send an email to a larger group of people, and those early donations act as a guide to encourage others to match those donations.
Time your reach out to friends and family
Matt also believes that reaching out to your network is all about timing.
“I’ll go out to my friends and family about three to six weeks before… [Then] as I get closer to the event, I’ll send out a reminder email, post or text messages saying, ‘I’m doing this in a couple of weeks’. It’s about the immediacy for friends and family.”
Post to socials during and after the event
It is good to consider the different types of social networks you can use; fitness tracking apps can be a good visual support to turn your words into action.
“When I actually do the ride, I’ll put a sponsorship link on Strava and post that to social media. I also post on social media after the event, letting people know how it went and I usually see a bump in fundraising then.”
Say thank you to everyone who donates
Every single person who donates to Matt’s page receives a warm thank you. “I always make the thank you the same – whether someone donates $5 or $500. I treat everyone equally, and the message is that I’m grateful for every donation.”
It’s important to him that everyone feels safe to donate what they can, especially at a time when $5 may be a lot for some people. For supporters who contribute a significant amount, Matt sends a personalised thank you email, recognising the contribution they’ve made.
Shift your perspective on fundraising
Matt gets a lot of satisfaction out of fundraising, and he encourages every new fundraiser to give it a go. “I didn’t know I would enjoy it until I did it the first time,” he says. “I don’t see it as asking people for money, because all I’m saying is: ‘Here’s an opportunity to donate to a worthy cause.’
Most people donate even a few dollars to something each year – the Very Special Ride is one option that they can choose – and all I’m doing is letting them know about it. I also share what it means to donate to Very Special Kids, as there’s a strong affiliation for me.”
Share your why
Matt says he also shares what it means to donate to Very Special Kids with his network, as there’s a strong affiliation for him.
“The work that Very Special Kids does is close to my heart, in 2005 we were told that our daughter [Ashi] would most likely not survive after contracting meningococcal at 14 months old, whilst after five days in ICU Ashi recovered, that conversation will never leave me.
My aim is to be able to raise funds to contribute in some small way to parents and children who are navigating such a challenging time in their life.”
As a predominantly self-funded organisation, Very Special Kids relies on contributions from fundraisers like Matt, as well as the generous support of corporate partners like efm Logistics.
If you’d like to take on a challenge like Matt, check out our upcoming fundraising opportunities here.
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Something very special is coming!
September 4, 2024
We are excited to announce that on Tuesday 10 September, A Very Special Day, our fun, exciting and impactful annual matched giving day is returning.
For 24 hours only, any donation you make will be DOUBLED by generous matching partners – which means your kindness goes TWICE as far.
That’s double the impact and double the care for children with life-limiting conditions and their families. But remember, it’s for 24 hours only!
You can find out a little more in this video.
Your generosity on the day will help us continue to provide vital 24-hour paediatric palliative care to children like nine-year-old Luca, who is known affectionately as ‘Cuddly Koala’ because of his love of cuddles.
At just three weeks’ old Luca suddenly turned blue and his parents, Nadja and Marc, spent the next five nights in a newborn intensive care unit, praying he would survive.
Thankfully, Luca did survive. But it was just the beginning of many challenges for this brave little boy.
Over the next few months his condition began to deteriorate. Doctors told Nadja and Marc to prepare for the worst.
“We hoped it was just a one-off thing,” says Nadja. “But along the way, everything that would be a little problem for a normal kid, would end up being huge for Luca.”
The good news is, eight years later, Luca is here and smiling – thanks to kind people like you – enjoying his best life at the new and improved children’s hospice, Very Special Kids House.
Luca still hasn’t been given an official diagnosis, so every day is unknown for him and his family. This is why being able to rely on Very Special Kids for support is so important. Mum, Nadja, says:
“When I pick up Luca from Very Special Kids House, I know he’s had a great time, and I can give him so much extra love because I’ve had time to breathe.”
Your support this year can help ensure Very Special Kids House is always available to children like Luca and their families, 24 hours of the day, with free of charge respite care they can’t get anywhere else.
So please, add A Very Special Day to your calendar for Tuesday 10 September.
You can:
- Help spread the word – Share our communications with your networks – friends, family, neighbours, members of your community groups
- Help fundraise by setting up a fundraising page – Gather some very special people and find a fun way to fundraise ahead of the day, knowing all your contributions will be doubled. You can sign up a page at www.vsk.org.au/averyspecialday
- Donate on A Very Special Day – Have your impact doubled on the day! Donate at www.vsk.org.au/averyspecialday
Together, we can make this A Very Special Day to remember.
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We’ve got a ‘Footy Fever’
August 7, 2024
On Friday 2 August, we held an unforgettable Footy Fever lunch – celebrating the greatest football rivalry in over 100 years of AFL/VFL history, Carlton v Collingwood.
A big thank you to our MCs Mark Allen and David ‘the Ox’ Schwarz for hosting this energetic afternoon, and musician Mike Brady for performing some of his classic football anthems.
Our panel, Brendan Fevola, David King, Mick McGuane and Dane Swan, kept us highly enthralled as they recalled their greatest moments on the field. Special mention also goes to guest Mick Malthouse who joined in the on-stage banter!
There were a lot of laughs – and even more heart – as our generous supporters came together to raise more than $370,000. These vital funds will help Very Special Kids continue to provide holistic palliative care for children and young people with life-limiting conditions across Victoria.
We were thrilled to receive pledges for 110 nights of respite and end-of-life care at Victoria’s only children’s hospice, Very Special Kids House.
During the lunch, very special mum – Louise – kindly shared her connection to Very Special Kids, as well as some stories of her own Pies v Blues family rivalry.
Louise and her husband Raymond are the loving parents of three children; 10-year-old Charli, and twins Axel and Aria. Axel is four years old, however his twin sister Aria sadly died when she was 19 months old from a rare, incurable disease called leukodystrophy
Shortly before Aria died, the family were rocked with the news that Axel had another rare genetic disease, IQSEC2, for which he requires 24-hour care.
Our world has been turned upside down in more ways than one... It is through the support of Very Special Kids, and generous supporters like you, that our hardest days are made a little bit more bearable. Your support is not just a financial transaction. It is a lifeline.
There wasn’t a dry eye in the room when later that afternoon, Louise’s name was drawn in our raffle, winning a 2024 Hyundai Venue that was kindly donated by our major prize donor, Hyundai Help for Kids.
Special thanks to our supporting partner Lowe Living, and in-kind partners Jetty Road Brewery and Sutton Grange Estate Wines. We’d also like to thank our many more in-kind supporters, including Everyday Australia Beer and The Cupcake Queens, for making this day possible.
Another thank you goes to our incredible Footy Fever committee Patrick Prendergast, Peter Sidwell and Justin Whitford. Without your support, Footy Fever wouldn’t have been possible.
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Stepping up to the treadmill for 24-hour care
May 31, 2024
On Friday 24 to Saturday 25 May, our very special community stepped up to the treadmills to take on 24 hours of non-stop motion!
The 24-Hour Treadmill Challenge, saw more than 800 participants keep 29 NovoFit treadmills running for 24 hours, finishing with a celebratory confetti canon explosion – and some very sore feet and muscles!
Thank you to our wonderful community for participating in and supporting this vibrant event. Together we raised more than a sweat, fundraising over $650,000 for children and young people with life-limiting illnesses, and their families.
Very Special Kids Acting Chief Executive Officer Donna Durston-McKenna thanked challenge participants and supporters for their amazing generosity and commitment.
“Congratulations to all the 24-Hour Treadmill Challenge participants and everyone who has donated. Every step taken and every dollar raised over the past 24 hours counts for a seriously sick child.”
A big thank you to 3AW’s Jimmy Bartel (pictured) who took on his own challenge in studio, virtually riding from Geelong to Mildura and raising over $35,000.
Read more about Jimmy’s ride here.
Cara Lukav was another who participated for the fourth year. The nine-year-old, whose mum is a palliative care nurse at Very Special Kids, set a fundraising goal of $4,000 before the event and had already surpassed the target before her first step on the treadmill.
Cara finished as one of the event’s top fundraisers, raising more than $6,000.
See photos from the event here
We’d also like to acknowledge our event sponsors, 3AW, NovoFit, Genesis and Harry the Hirer. The 24-Hour Treadmill Challenge would not have been possible without the support of many other participating organisations, in-kind supporters, MCs and entertainment.
Our volunteers also put in invaluable time and effort to bring this amazing event to life. Special mention goes to our volunteer award winner, Nathan Maddison, who went above and beyond to keep the treadmills in motion in the early morning!
Please also put a hand together for our top fundraisers:
Individual awards
Highest fundraising individual – Glenn Carmody
2nd highest fundraising individual – Belinda Muir
3rd highest fundraising individual – Matt Honey
Highest fundraising individual (under 18 years old) – Cara Lukav
Team awards
Highest fundraising team – ALH Hotels
2nd highest fundraising team – EY Melbourne
3rd highest fundraising team – Hey Hey, It’s VSK
Special mention also goes to Kristy Whitnell from Team Supersonic Jett for best dressed, and the team spirit award winner Icon Group.
Donations to the 24-Hour Treadmill Challenge remain open until June 30.
Visit vsktreadmill.org.au
Cara takes on the 24-Hour Treadmill Challenge
May 14, 2024
Nine-year-old Cara is stepping up to her fifth 24-Hour Treadmill Challenge and is already climbing up this year’s fundraiser leaderboard!
We were very lucky to have an exclusive interview with Cara, where she spilled some of her top treadmill tips with us:
Why did you choose to first participate in the 24-Hour Treadmill Challenge?
“Because my mummy works in the hospice.”
What do you love most about event day?
“I like playing the games and seeing everyone.”
Why is supporting Very Special Kids so important to you?
“So I can help the sick kids.”
What tips do you have for anyone participating for the first time?
“Practice on a treadmill first so you don’t fall off.”
What’s your best fundraising tips?
“Try to ask as many people as you can to raise more money for the sick kids.”
Big thank you to Cara for letting us share her reasons for joining the challenge year after year and for some wise tips for those taking part in the event for the first time.
Every donation helps our dedicated fundraisers, like Cara, raise more than a sweat for the seriously ill kids in our care.
You can help them reach their goal by donating at vsktreadmill.org.au.
A Very Special Ladies Lunch
March 22, 2024
On Friday 15 March, we served up A Very Special Ladies Lunch, raising a record-breaking $124,000 for children and young people with life-limiting conditions.
Guests indulged in beautiful views of the Yarra River at our new venue, Leonda by the Yarra, and had an exciting chance to win a 1ct pink Sapphire, to be set to custom piece, courtesy of Melbourne jeweller Tallulah.
Our MC Heidy Murphy, entertainers Miss Dee and Justin Hall and auctioneer Phil de Fegely kept the energy high, while our many in-kind supporters including Cupcake Queens, CM Liquor and so many others ensured the table prizes and auction items were in high demand.
A special thank you goes to our presenting partner Lowe Living for helping make the day possible and very special mum Mel, who generously shared her connection to Very Special Kids.
Mel is a mum to four children including 12-year-old, Wil, who has a CBL gene mutation and presents similarly to Noonan syndrome. And Elle, who had hypoplastic left heart syndrome and sadly died at 13 days old. Mel shared:
Very Special Kids have helped take me from the dark wardrobe, wanting to be swallowed by the world, to owning my grief.
I was so pleased to be asked to come today…to be able to be here today and to thank all of you for supporting Very Special Kids and in turn, supporting my family, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for allowing and supporting such an incredible place to operate.
You can watch more of Mel’s family story and others in the documentary, Live The Life You Please, here.
In 2025, A Very Special Ladies Lunch is set to be even bigger and better. If you missed out and would like to be notified about next year’s event, please email events@vsk.org.au.
Meet Jenny, a Very Special Guardian
February 19, 2024
Jenny has been part of our very special community for decades.
As one of our visiting hospital volunteers, Jenny visits Very Special Kids families at The Royal Children’s Hospital, spending time with the children and supporting their families.
In 2014, Jenny won the City of Stonnington’s Citizen of the Year Award and in 2023, celebrated an incredible 25 years of volunteering with Very Special Kids, both in the hospital and at fundraising events.
Passionate supporters of Very Special Kids, Jenny and her husband, John, are also proud Very Special Guardians. Jenny shared,
“My husband and I sat down one evening to discuss whether we should add Very Special Kids to our Wills; we both quickly realised that it was basically a no-brainer.”
“We’ve been very blessed with a house, two lovely children, our gorgeous grandchildren. We feel so fortunate, especially with our health. And the children at the hospice; they weren’t born with their health. But with a gift in our Wills, we knew for a fact that we could make their lives so much better, because I’ve seen the evidence for myself for over 25 years.”
So that’s why we became Very Special Guardians. And to those of you who are wondering whether to join us, I would say this: The staff are wonderful, the cause is beyond important, and the difference you’ll make for children and their families is clear to see.
To learn more about joining Jenny as a Very Special Guardian, please contact our Gift in Wills coordinator on 1800 888 875 or at bequest@vsk.org.au.
Josiah’s story
December 8, 2023
When you hear Josiah’s cheerful giggle, you can’t help but smile. He is one of the most joyful little boys you could ever meet.
But Josiah entered the world fighting for his life. Josiah was born with a hole in his heart and a life-limiting condition.
For his mum Ruth and his dad Travis, every single day has come with desperate hope for their son’s survival.
Now four years old, Josiah’s neurometabolic condition affects him every day and night. He has difficulty breathing and is susceptible to respiratory illnesses with multiple cases of serious pneumonia. His vision is significantly impaired, and he has low muscle tone that can make it impossible to do simple things like sit on his own.
To this day, there is no treatment for Josiah’s condition. Not even a reference point.
But things became a little easier from the moment him and his family connected with Very Special Kids.
At 13 months old, Josiah came for his first overnight stay in Very Special Kids children’s hospice. It was the first time Ruth and Travis felt they could leave him somewhere — with the peace of mind that he was well cared for.
Nobody truly gets the mental load and the stress that comes with having to make the right decisions for a child like Josiah.
To have Josiah monitored by people who can dedicate the time and who care enough to do it too, that is everything to me. I trust Very Special Kids more than anyone with him.
If you can give a gift this Christmas, it will help to support families like Josiah’s with everything from hospice respite care to counselling.
“For us, Christmas is about hope. It’s a time of gratitude. Josiah is a gift. He may have a lot of complexities but, looking back to when he was born, it’s a miracle to see him get to where he’s at now.”
Please send your kind Christmas gift as soon as you can to help fund vital respite through our children’s hospice over the Christmas period.
Click here to donate today!
Today is a very special day!
November 14, 2023
For 24-hours only, all donations will be doubled to help keep the doors to Very Special Kids House open to children and young people with life-limiting conditions, 24/7.
For the children and families we support, if they can’t turn to us they would have nowhere else to go. We must always be by their side; providing the vital respite and care they desperately need.
Please join us on Tuesday 21 November! You can:
- Help spread the word. Share our communications with your networks – friends, family, neighbours, members of your community groups.
- Help fundraise by setting up a fundraising page. Gather some very special people and find a fun way to fundraise ahead of the day, knowing all your contributions will be doubled. You can sign up and create a fundraising page here.
- Donate on A Very Special Day. Have your impact doubled on the day! Donate here.
