KHS for Austin’s Wish to Walk

KHS for Austin’s Wish to Walk:
Kyneton High School is supporting Austin’s Wish to Walk with a Walkathon. This walkathon is running on Wednesday 5th May, which is week 3. It will run for the day, with each year level joining in over the course of the day. All proceeds from our walkathon effort will be going straight to Austin to support him as he goes across to the USA to receive life changing surgery. 

A little about AUSTIN’S WISH TO WALK:
Austin is the son of two former teachers from our school, Julian and Katherine Vearing. Austin is a funny, bubbly 4 year old, who loves cars, trains, jumping in muddy puddles and the park. But Austin has cerebral palsy; he was born premature at 30 weeks and because of this he acquired a brain injury. Austin's cerebral palsy affects both his legs and his left hand. He suffers from spasticity, a tightening of the muscles, which makes moving, walking and everyday day tasks extremely difficult. This increased muscle tone means he is fighting against his body to move, so Austin currently cannot walk independently. He uses a walker to get around, and relies heavily on his family for help during his day to day life.

But there’s an opportunity... Austin has been accepted to have a major life changing operation that will permanently reduce his spasticity. It is called Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy or SDR in St. Louis, America. This surgery is performed in the lower part of the spine by severing through nerves to reduce the spasticity in his body. While this isn't a cure to his cerebral palsy, without this spasticity his body won't be as restricted, he will have better posture and control, gain the ability to move in and out of positions with more ease, be more comfortable and in less pain, have a better quality of life and it is expected he will be able to walk independently on all surfaces! This opportunity will definitely change his life for the better.

Austin is due to have the surgery in June 2021. This operation will change his life, but the downfall is the expense of the surgery. This is where we need your help.

Overall the family needs at least $100,000 to cover the costs of surgery, flights, accommodation etc. Kyneton High School would like to contribute to this overall cost. 

Please join us on our mission of making Austin's dream to walk a reality. Help him live a pain free and independent life. Please donate if you can, share our mission, or help be a part of our fundraising team. We appreciate any help we can get towards achieving this goal.