Dear potential donors, my name is Danielle and i am fundraising for my dear friend and colleague Sarah, whose parents Bill and Marie recently lost their home and all their possessions in a devastating house fire in country Victoria earlier this week.

Imagine relaxing in your home on a Monday morning and then all of a sudden your family home is engulfed in flames, you and your husband of 55 years are trapped inside as you watch all your treasured memories totally destroyed whilst fearing for your life.

This is exactly what happened to elderly residents Bill and Marie of country Victoria.

14 fire trucks from all over North East Victoria attended and tried to save the home, but sadly it was a total loss.

Fortunately Bill made it out safely after running through the kitchen as the roof fell through but Marie was almost not so lucky as she was trapped in the ensuite.

Thanks to a heroic neighbours quick thinking, he, along with Bill, were able to tear the sash windows off their tracks and lift Marie out of the bathroom window.

Loved and respected members of their community, Bill and Marie are active in their local church and are always the first to offer assistance to others. They are hardworking, kind, generous, loving parents and grandparents who in the blink of an eye are homeless and left destitute.

Marie suffered Carbon Monoxide poisoning that has damaged her lungs and heart, and they suspect she may have had a mild heart attack. Bill has burns to his feet and suffered the effects of adrenalin and shock.

I personally cannot imagine the heartbreak and loss that Bill, Marie and all the extended family must be feeling at this time.

We are requesting contributions of any amount you can gift to assist in purchasing immediate essential items such as all aspects of clothing, shoes, cooking utensils, toiletries, furniture and Manchester.

The funds donated will also be used to assist Bill and Marie with emergency accommodations, and beginning to rebuild and assist in transitioning to their "new normal" both physically and emotionally.

I would like to thank each and every person who can contribute to making this transition as easy as possible. All amounts are graciously accepted.

Thank you

Danielle

News stories reporting on this devastation can be found here:

https://www.bordermail.com.au/story/8372999/i-thought-this-was-how-i-would-die-woman-counts-blessings-after-house-fire/

https://www.bordermail.com.au/story/8371297/neighbours-raised-alarm-helped-woman-trapped-in-burning-rutherglen-home/

https://www.sheppnews.com.au/news/fire-destroys-rutherglen-home-2/

https://www.bordermail.com.au/story/8370435/huge-firefighting-response-after-blaze-burns-out-rutherglen-home/

The below excerpt has been taken from Sarah's Facebook page. I would like to post it here also to acknowledge and recognise all the amazing people that have assisted to date.

"There are no words to describe how grateful we are to all the CFA brigades, District 24, Ambulance Victoria and Victoria Police, NSW RFS, Corowa Fire and Rescue, NSW Ambulance, Indigo Shire, the countless volunteers who worked well into the afternoon to secure the property, to all of the community for wrapping their arms around Mum and Dad so swiftly, Albury Base Hospital for their wonderful care and for keeping them together as best they could in emergency and for their neighbours Lorraine and Colin for not only saving Mum's life but for letting them live in their house while they get their emergency accommodation sorted."