By BRIDGET SCOTT
A CAROLINE Springs mother is touched by the support of a group of VCAL students from Narre Warren South P-12 College who are fundraising for her son, Tyler.
Tyler Fishlock was diagnosed with bilateral retinoblastoma when he was only two years old and in the next two years he lost both eyes.
Since 2006, the VCAL students who were touched by Tyler’s stor5y when they heard it in the news, decided to help the family.
They have since raised about $15,000 to help Tyler receive proper equipment so he could have more independence.
This year, Tyler was diagnosed with secondary cancer and the students at P-12 have pledged to help again.
Today (Thursday) the college principal Rob Casamento andyear seven teacher Sarah Davies will shave their heads to raise funds for Tyler.
Assistant principal Rob Duncan explained that since the school first began fundraising, they had set benchmarks for how much they wished to raise.
In the past few weeks the school has aimed to reach $7000 to allow Tyler’s parents to spend more time with him.
Tyler’s mother Georgette said the money raised and the support from the school had been incredible.
“I have never known a group of kids to be less wound up in themselves,” she said.
“They are an amazing group of students and I think the staff are also responsible in a lot of ways for making the children the way they are.”
Mr Duncan said the school had done whatever it could to help Tyler, including benefit concerts and head shave events.
Georgette said the recent money raised would ease the pressure on her family at an unpredictable time.
“It has taken a burden off both our backs and given us breathing space,” she said.
Georgette said how it would allow both her and husband Brad to spend more time with Tyler.
“It will help Brad stay home from work so he can spend every second with him – because we don’t know what’s around the corner,” she said.
Mr Duncan said that the school’s efforts for Tyler had brought the school community closer.
“It has been great for the school,” he said. “We have got a real sense of togetherness.”
Georgette said the support from the school was very important to Tyler.
“The friendship we have formed is life long.”
