Halloween party in Australia raises money for child's power wheelchair

From the Fraser Coast Chronicle in Australia:

Lucy Hibbert, a three-year-old Maryborough girl suffering from cerebral palsy, is one step closer to getting around on a power chair thanks to a generous little boy from St Mary’s Primary School.

Blake, five-years-old, hosted a Halloween-themed birthday party at the weekend and chose to donate all $502 in gift money to Lucy, who needs to raise $9000 for the specialised wheelchair.

“Blake wanted a Halloween party,” said his mother, Zelda. “But we told him if he wanted to have one now, it would have to be an early birthday party for January.

“People kept ringing and asking what to buy Blake and we weren’t sure what to do, because it wasn’t technically Blake’s birthday.

“He eventually decided he wanted to donate any money to sick kids. Then I heard about Lucy through work and we got in contact with her mother.”

Lucy’s mother Shelley Hibbert was blown away by the donation, which brought the total raised to $1000.

“Thank you just doesn’t seem like enough,” she said. “I’m overwhelmed. The party was fantastic and I just want to thank everybody, especially Blake, from the bottom of my heart.”

Ms Hibbert said Lucy’s mobility was very limited from cerebral palsy – a condition that affects the way the brain controls the muscles.

“At the moment she can only do half rolls on the floor,” she said. “We either have to carry her or push her in her pram.”

Ms Hibbert said the family was desperately fundraising for the power chair and would be “forever in the debt” of anyone who wished to make a donation, whether big or small.