'Follow Your Dreams' Grant
"You've got to take one day at a time. Life can be tough, but your life is what you make it."
Carmel Harris lived her life to the full, every day, and she wanted to see other people living with EB reaching for their dreams.
The 'Follow Your Dreams' grant, initiated by Carmel, is a gateway to your dreams. Maybe you’ve always wanted to drive a Formula 1 car around the track, or see the Great Ocean Road. Maybe you dream about flying silently through the sky in a hot air balloon at daybreak. Whatever your dream, DEBRA would like to help you get there.
All you need to do is save the application form to your computer and type in all the information. Or you can just print the form out and fill it in by hand. Then you can either email the completed form to us or send it in by post and we will take it from there.
This year's applications closed on 1st February 2011; the grant recipient will be decided at the DEBRA Australia AGM held in June 2011. If you would like to apply for next year's round get your application in before the end of January 2012. Next year's winner will be announced at the 2012 DEBRA Conference. Please note that if you are successful in receiving this grant through DEBRA Australia, you MAY then be ineligible to apply for wishes through other organisations.
Anyone wishing to contribute towards the Follow Your Dreams Grant please contact DEBRA's Secretary at secretary@debra.org.au
Click here to download the application form.
Successful Recipients
2011
Eliza Baird is the deserving recipient of the Follow Your Dreams Grant for 2011. We are so happy to say that, with the help of the Make a Wish Foundation, we were able to send Eliza and her family to Disneyland, where Eliza has always wanted to go. She tells us that she had an amazing time and got lots of hugs from the Disney characters wandering around the theme park. Congratulations Eliza, and we are really happy that we got to help you Follow Your Dream this year!
Left: Eliza and her family getting a big hug from Minnie Mouse at Disneyland
2010
We are pleased to announce that Gavin O’Brien from QLD is the successful recipient of the Follow Your Dreams grant this year! Gavin was recently in hospital for major surgery and his computer no longer worked so we awarded the 'Follow Your Dreams' grant to Gavin and provided him with a new laptop and portable printer. Gavin has always been a loyal advocate for DEBRA and helps us out with all sorts of public appearances and lobbying efforts. Congratulations Gavin! We hope you get lots of use and enjoyment out of your new equipment.
Right: Gavin enjoying his new laptop.
2009
Paolo Lucia's dream was to meet Mark Webber and sit in a Formula One car. At the 2009 DEBRA EB Conference / Camp it was announced that Paolo was the successful recipient of the grant. Paolo did get to find out about his good fortune but unfortunately lost his battle against cancer and EB on 5th July 2009. Paolo was involved in DEBRA Australia from its conception and was a fantastic ambassador for creating awareness and much understanding for EB, he will be sadly missed.
To launch the grant other applicants were also assisted with following their dreams. This included:
- Supporting Stevie to attend a skin disorder camp in the US in July 2009
- Presenting Gavin with a camcorder for his adventure camps
- Presenting Eliza with signed copies of Jackie French books and posters
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