A Warrnambool cardiologist’s goal to raise $20,000 in 20 days for an East Timorese teen’s heart surgery has been boosted by $11,000 of donations in six days.
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Dr Noel Bayley appealed to the public last week to help fund Alia Borges life-saving open-heart surgery.
Alia, 15, has critical rheumatic heart disease and Dr Bayley said south-west residents had opened their hearts to help Alia.
The fundraising campaign was launched on Tuesday, September 27 and Dr Bayley, East Timor Hearts Fund honorary medical adviser and co-founder, said the response was “absolutely extraordinary”.
Dr Bayley said the south-west’s interest was particularly strong with many individual donors and local charitable trusts coming on board.
“Crowdfunding to support Alia’s heart procedure is a novel approach but we were always quietly confident that people would get behind Alia’s cause,” Dr Bayley said.
“Even so we’ve been overawed and very touched by people’s kindness.”
“This includes a generous $2500 contribution from the Warrnambool-based AL Lane Foundation, as well significant contributions from a number of individuals and smaller family trusts which have asked to remain anonymous,” Dr Bayley said.
A further $9,000 needs to be raised to fund the operation which will be conducted at Barwon Health’s University Hospital in Geelong.
The fundraising campaign ends on October 17. To donate go to chuffed.org
