Richard was building their dream home.

Team fundraiser

Linda Milburn and Nerys Welch are organizing this fundraiser on behalf of Nerys Welch.

Donation protected

...but he didn't get to finish it.

Nerys really needs our help!

Richard and Nerys were a perfectly normal couple. They met and fell for each other instantly, travelled the world then decided to have a family to grow with the love they shared.

Three beautiful children, daughters Jaguar and Cobra and a son Cougar were brought into the world. Not everything went as clock work with all 3 diagnosed with autism, one profoundly affected. Richard also had his challenges with frequent bouts of ill health. In 2012 he was finally diagnosed with T Cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

Months of gruelling chemotherapy followed to get Richard into remission before a vital stem cell transplant could take place. His body resisted stubbornly but Richard never gave in. Finally after 8 months in hospital he responded and his transplant was successfully undertaken.

Richard's recovery was gradual but they finally settled in the north Queensland town of Bauple. Richard decided that while he was well he was going to build them the home they deserved (being a builder by trade). Financial and health restraints, two hip replacements and a shoulder reconstruction meant building slowly progressed to a half finished state.

Early this year Richard developed respiratory difficulties due to complications from his transplant (Graft Versus Host Disease- GVH). This was treated with more chemotherapy and anti rejection drugs. Richard never gave up fighting , however due to years of anti-rejection drugs and steroids his body was unable to withstand this harsh regimen. His organs started failing .

On August 20th Richard lost his battle.

Nerys and the 3 kids, now aged 13,11 and 10, all live in a tiny caravan.

If we can help her financially she can:

Complete construction and finishing of walls and ceilings to finish the rooms.

Install rainwater tanks as there is no scheme water in Bauple
Connect both water and electricity to the house including the toilet.
Currently buckets are used to flush the toilet from water storage pods.

Install cladding to the outside of the house

Build and equip bathrooms, laundry and a kitchen in the house.
Presently washing is done by hand and showering by buckets. Cooking is done in the caravan on two tiny gas burners as there is no oven.

Nerys also needs to seal the concrete floor to be able to put in floor treatments and retaining walls are needed for stabilisation of the block. Then they can finally move into the home my brother so desperately wanted to finish.

I have no Idea how Nerys will manage this on her own.
She can't even take a part time job, as she is the children's full time carer and also home schools all three children.

I promised my brother that somehow I would make sure Nerys and the kids would be OK. I had no idea how I was going to achieve that. Until Gofundme was suggested.

So here I am asking you to help me help a family get on their feet. It wont bring Richard back but it will help finish what he started.
Any donation will be greatly appreciated.