Hi, this fundraiser is to support Tim Walton, Paige Gaskell and her family who need a bit of support with a universe that keeps throwing too much their way and they are now in serious financial stress.

They live in Altona Meadows in Melbourne and their kids go to Altona Green Primary School.

Since 2017 they've had several hard knocks and were finally at the beginning of a really good place until the latest hit to the gut. The most recent blow is that her partner and father of her two gorgeous kids Tim had a bilateral pulmonary embolism and prolonged cardiac arrest - with associated organ damage due to lack of oxygen and rib, sternum and ankle fracture sustained during CPR and transport. The doctors stated it was a miracle he survived. He spent 2 weeks in hospital and though now home will spend a long time recovering. He has now been off for almost 3 months and his return date is unknown.

Tim, who works as a chef, is unable to work at the moment. He is the family's only income earner as Paige has only just finished her nursing diploma. Centrelink are still 'processing' after almost 3 months leaving them in serious financial stress.

Having had a health care card for a while it was easy for Paige to forget when she no longer had the card that she now has to pay for ambulance cover. So the ambulances that saved Tim's life are now due to cost them $1306 when they have no family income.

In 2017 Paige was diagnosed with rectal/colon cancer. She battled through successfully for years with 2 young kids with extensive surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and needing a colostomy bag for the rest of her life at the age of 36.

COVID in 2020 hit their family harder than many as their only income earner Tim worked in the hospitality industry and they struggled with only government assistance. Paige was still recovering from cancer treatment and her previous experience was also in hospitality.

Throughout this Paige has also had to deal with having her youngest child being diagnosed with a neurodevelopmental disorder - with all the associated appointments and heartache involved, including advocating for her son with the NDIS to get him support.

Despite all this Paige has retained her inherent kindness warmth and positivity. She finds it hard to accept help because she always feels like other people are more deserving and that there are people struggling more than her (despite her friends vehemently disagreeing with her!!!). Being the beautiful person she is she decided she would turn her experience into a positive and study to become a nurse so she could help others through what she had been through. This latest crisis happened just as she finished her diploma and started to search for work. She was really excited and you could see her happiness.

Her job search has had to be put on hold during the crisis due to needing to care for Tim and the kids but hopefully she will be able to start her first nursing job soon!

If anyone can chip in a little to help that would be awesome - hoping this will cover the ambulance bill and some basic bills and expenses until they at least can get Centrelink assistance.

Besides helping Tim and Paige - her two gorgeous kids have now had to watch both parents have life-threatening illnesses with long recuperation times and could do with things to brighten their day. So if they can get a little extra to be able to take the kids to activities or other entertainment then that would be awesome too. They were 4 and 6 when Paige was diagnosed with cancer and are now 9 and 11 with this latest trauma.

Thank you for reading and every little bit helps!!