Thursday, August 24, 2023

Issue:

Mackay and Whitsunday Life

The Cody Effect Continues With Hummingbird House Appeal

One of the country’s only children’s hospices is at the heartfelt centre of a state-wide fundraising appeal, and its local iteration is being led in memory of Cody Gibbs.

The 15-year-old Airlie Beach boy passed away this year after a battle with a rare form of brain cancer and spent the last weeks of his life at Brisbane’s Hummingbird House, which provides specialised paediatric palliative care.

Coles Queensland have held annual, month-long fundraisers for the care facility for the past eight years – and with the exceptional hospice having a place in the hearts of the Gibbs family and friends, it made more than sense to join forces for this year’s charity campaign.

“For the next four weeks of September, we’ll be here at Coles on Saturdays and Sundays to raise funds for Hummingbird House on behalf of Cody and his family,” a family friend of the Gibbs and driving force behind the joint effort, Maz McDougall, said.

“The Cody Effect continues by helping Hummingbird House; we are supporting the staff that let mums and dads be just that in what are tough times.

“It’s just one way I thought we could help show them our love and appreciation after they looked after our little superstar and his beautiful family.”

Coles Cannonvale staff and family friends of the Gibbs’ will man the sausage sizzle and raffle station at the local supermarket for the next four weeks, which includes prizes donated from several Whitsunday businesses.

A large poster which featured at a commemoration of Cody’s life event has also been hung up in store. It features messages to Cody written by family and friends.

Coles customers making purchases in store also have the opportunity to donate $2 dollars to receive cards created by Hummingbird House families.

If you would like to donate directly to The Cody Effect’s Hummingbird House fundraiser, follow this link: https://fundraise.wmq.org.au/fundraisers/thecodyeffect

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