More than 300 burgers were transformed into some serious cash for Warrnambool's Dowie family at an event which raised more than $6000 on Monday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Two Kings Burgers owner Travis Owen said he and the staff opted to donate their time and the day's takings for the Burgers for Noah event to help the family attend a medical camp in the US.
Noah has Diamond Blackfan Anaemia (DBA), an extremely rare blood condition that affects about 20 Australians and about 1000 patients worldwide.
Noah's family has the chance to have a consultation with one of only a handful of DBA specialists worldwide at Camp Sunshine in the US in July.
Prior to the fundraiser, Mr Owen said he hoped to sell between 250 to 280 burgers, which they exceeded, making it the store's biggest day of trade ever.
"It was awesome," he said. "We sold out of everything. We sold about 300 burgers. It was huge."
He said $6250 was raised, which included proceeds from raffles, a silent auction and donations.
"The amount of people who turned up during that 5pm to 7pm period when Mick Ferguson was playing some music was good," Mr Owen said. "There was a really good vibe. We did an eating competition and there was about half a dozen entries in that which was good.
"It was good fun. It was great."
Mr Owen said food suppliers, local business and community members generously donated more than $4000 worth of food, raffle and auction items towards the event.
Warrnambool's Lola McCarthy, 10, hosted a separate fundraiser at Warrnambool's Spotlight store on Tuesday.
Lola said she wanted to help Noah get to the US and raised $200 at Spotlight. It will be added to the $4000 she's already raised on her Shaving for Sunshine Go Fund Me page, ahead of her main fundraiser on May 6.
Lola's made around 200 scrunchies so far, which will be for sale at the Shaving for Sunshine event at the Warrnambool Stadium next month, where she will also part with her long blonde locks.
Lola made scrunchies in store, while Noah watched on, and community members joined in.
Lola's mum Colleen Eccles said Spotlight staff made kits for the children to take home and make their own scrunchies to help with the fundraising efforts. They also gave Lola fabric to turn into more hairbands to sell.
Scrunchies can be purchased from Spotlight or at the Shaving for Sunshine event.
In yet another show of support for the family, Warrnambool's Bohemia Cafe staff are also donating their tips during the month of April to the Dowies.
Noah's mum Kristy said there were not enough words to convey the gratitude they felt. She thanked the Two Kings Burgers staff who worked for free, the Spotlight team, Lola and her family and the local businesses who have contributed to the fundraisers.
"This trip will be the trip of a lifetime for Noah and a potentially life-saving one, to which we were going to do everything we could (financially) to make happen," Ms Dowie said.
"Without the support we have had, we most likely would've come home with a huge debt.
"There's no thank you that is enough, we are just forever indebted and forever grateful," she said.
Have you signed up to The Standard's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in the south-west.