By LIA SPENCER
A FIVE-MONTH-OLD girl and her young cousin have motivated a Cranbourne North man to raise funds for sick children.
Steven Pope hopes to raise $30,000 for the Good Friday Appeal through his charity Bucks for Bubs.
He said his five-year-old niece had tubular sclerosis and had been in and out of the Royal Children’s Hospital since she was born.
He donated $100 each year to the Good Friday appeal but wanted to increase his contribution since his daughter Olivia was born five months ago.
“If something did happen to my daughter, I’d know my contribution could help,” he said.
Mr Pope has sold about 270 seats for the Bucks for Bubs trivia night at Berwick Leisure Centre on 21 February, but hopes to sell about a dozen more tables.
He has also received an overwhelming response of support from local businesses but said any more donations would be greatly appreciated.
“I have also received a huge amount of donations from local businesses and businesses from Facebook and have been quite overwhelmed from the support I have received.
“I have had ASTRA billiards in Dandenong donate a $4000 billiard table as well as MCKD Kitchens donate a $3000 kitchen renovation,” he said.
“We would like to get more donations to make this night a big success.
“It doesn’t have to be anything big – just things we can sell in auctions or raffles.”
Mr Pope said all donations could be made through the charity’s Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/bucksforbubs or by emailing him directly through bucksforbubs@gmail.com.
More than $258 million have been donated towards new equipment and research at the Royal Children’s Hospital since the Good Friday Appeal was launched in 1931.
