There’s always Hope

The trauma of coping with a sick child when you live far from medical treatment is eased in practical ways by family-focused charity Country Hope.

Story & photos by Freda Nicholls

When a child is diagnosed with a serious disease such as cancer, life becomes a roller-coaster ride for the entire family. The subsequent treatment period, which can last anywhere from days to months, causes great anxiety, especially if the family lives outside the major cities where treatment is usually provided and must travel long distances to hospitals. This is where Country Hope steps in.
Based in Wagga Wagga, NSW, Country Hope is a charity that assists families of sick children from southern New South Wales and northern Victoria. “Country hope has three main objectives,” explains Alan Lean, the organisation’s chairman. “To respond to the needs of families with practical support as and when these needs arise, to run regular fixed programs for the children and their families, and to protect the interests of our sponsors, supporters and volunteers by operating a low-cost organisation to ensure that donated resources are used for the children and their families.”