Help our sister fighting cancer whose home has burnt down

Hi, we're fundraising for our sister Shona and her husband Rick. Shona’s in a care home with stage four cancer, and their modest home on Kangaroo Island (South Australia) was destroyed by fire in early August. This video by Walkley Award winner Daniel Clarke, with some scenes filmed before the fire, vividly describes their situation.

On top of her illness, the fire is a devastating blow. Thankfully, no-one was injured in the blaze, and their beloved cat and horses are safe, but all their possessions, household items, personal papers and treasures are gone - their life from the last two decades together.

The house was uninsured (the premiums had become unaffordable following the 2020 bushfires), so Shona now has no home to come back to. Rick has to live on the property in a caravan with no heating or plumbing as he works to clear the damage.

We want to ease Shona and Rick's burden, at least to help replace the essentials (clothing, bedding, cooking utensils etc.) plus cover her care ($63/day) and his daily trips to visit her in hospital, 90 minutes away. They need some comfort and security while they deal with her illness and figure out what to do next. We'd be incredibly grateful if you could give them a helping hand too, by donating and/or sharing this appeal.

Thank you, and please spread the word as widely as you can.

Keith Gilbert and Janet Gilbert