Caroline Springs brigade members Stephanie Robson, Jake Busutill and David Topp with faces of the appeal Emily and Finley
Easter is just around the corner, which means CFA volunteers are about to hit Victorian streets and rattle tins to fundraise for the annual Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) Good Friday Appeal.
For 73 years, CFA has been a proud major fundraising partner of the Good Friday Appeal, raising over $37 million since 1951.
Last year, CFA brigades helped raise a massive $1,606,287 for the appeal by volunteers shaking tins on fire trucks, standing at traffic lights, in camping grounds and at clubs.
Today, CFA Deputy Chief Officer Alen Slijepcevic was joined by Caroline Springs brigade members 1st Lieutenant David Topp plus firefighters Jake Busutill and Stephanie Robson to help launch the appeal.
They were joined by faces of the appeal Emily and Finley and their families.
Caroline Springs brigade has raised $96,434.47 in total for the Good Friday Appeal, edging closer to the $100,000 milestone.
Captain Anthony Jenkins is the new Collection Group Manager for the brigade.
The father-of-five also has a strong connection with the hospital, one of his daughters helped by the team there.
"My daughter, just 18 months then, had her finger cut off and reattached by the plastics team at the Royal Childrens after an accident with a door. She is 13 now and you’d barely know it’s been reattached,” he said.
“I am so grateful for the appeal and the hospital especially after seeing first-hand the good work they do. They make you feel so comfortable as a parent too.”
DCO Slijepcevic said he was extremely proud of CFA’s long-standing relationship with the Good Friday Appeal.
“The remarkable thing about our volunteers is that not only do they give up their time to volunteer with CFA, they also happily give their time to fundraise for causes like the Appeal,” he said.
“It’s a cause close to the hearts of many of our members – whether they were former patients at the hospital or have family who have been touched by the RCH’s world-class service.
“We’re incredibly proud of our members’ continued fundraising efforts and pleased to once again support the Good Friday Appeal in 2024.”