Very Special Kids is Victoria’s leading specialists in holistic children’s palliative care, helping to ensure every child has the right to the best quality of life, no matter how long or short their life may be, and every family is comprehensively supported from diagnosis to bereavement and beyond.
Through the sale of commemorative Lexus Melbourne Cup pins at this year’s Melbourne Cup Carnival, more than $310,000 was raised.
This in addition to the $750,000 raised in 2019 and 2020, results in a combined donation of $1.06 million to support the charity as they embark on the rebuild of a new hospice in Malvern.
The $22.5 million project will be world-class, with state-of-the-art and best-practice clinical facilities to better support children of every age, size, cultural background and functional capability into the future.
VRC Chief Executive Officer Steve Rosich said the club was proud to be able to help make a difference to the lives of children and their families as part of the Pin & Win partnership with Very Special Kids.
“Pin and Win is the VRC’s major annual fundraising activity and we are delighted to have reached our target of raising $1 million for Very Special Kids, an extremely worthy cause who do incredible work to care for children with life-threating conditions and support their families,” Mr Rosich said.“I would like to thank all VRC members, partners and racegoers who purchased a Lexus Melbourne Cup pin and in doing so will help Very Special Kids to make a real difference through the build of a new state-of-the-art hospice.”
The VRC partnership has also connected families at the hospice with some of racing’s biggest names/most loved participants including VRC Ambassador and legendary trainer Gai Waterhouse and Flemington favourite, the late Melbourne Cup winner Might and Power. The Lexus Melbourne Cup trophy has also visited the hospice to delight children and families.
And in a special virtual moment last month ARIA award winner, multi-platinum singer/songwriter and VRC Ambassador Delta Goodrem joined children and their families in a musical therapy session featuring music, stories and questions.
Very Special Kids Chief Executive Officer Michael Wasley said the charity was very grateful for the Pin & Win partnership.
“We are predominantly self-funded so to be able to partner with the Victoria Racing Club and raise over $1 million in three years is just incredible,” Mr Wasley said.
“We are thrilled that construction of the hospice has commenced and we are one step closer to delivering our promise of building the world’s best children’s hospice to support future generations.”
Since 1995, the VRC’s Pin & Win campaign has raised more than $6.9 million for charity through the sale of Lexus Melbourne Cup souvenir pins, helping to change lives and support the community.
The VRC will announce the 2022 Pin & Win charity partner in the new year.
@FlemingtonVRC @VerySpecialKids #pinandwin
