Grateful but still struggling

By Rebecca Fraser
A NARRE Warren South family desperately trying to provide for a daughter with severe disabilities has been touched by a small act of generosity.
Terry and Anne Schade are attempting to raise $55,000 to buy a wheelchair accessible vehicle to transport their 12-year-old daughter Tara, who has cerebral palsy with global epilepsy and is both intellectually and physically disabled.
She is confined to a wheelchair with no hope of independent mobility.
Last December the Schades contacted the News to talk about their desperate plight.
John Radu, an Endeavour Hills father of three and senior salesperson at Clive Peeters in Dandenong, was touched by the family’s story and began a community fundraising campaign to help the Schades buy a new vehicle.
This week he presented Ms Schade with a cheque for $2000.
The money was donated by local businesses and Clive Peeters customers and the electrical store’s head office contributed $1000.
“I would have liked to have raised more but hopefully this will help the Schade family purchase a car,” Mr Radu said.
Ms Schade said she was extremely grateful for the donation but the family was still nowhere near their goal.
The mother of two said the family car was almost unserviceable and it was becoming increasingly expensive to catch taxis when they needed to go out.
“It is definitely more than what we had before but is still nowhere near what we need.
“The public response does not seem very hopeful as I have tried nearly every corporation in Australia and it is just hopeless.
“I am pleased that at least someone has tried to help and that there are people out there who really do care,” she said.