CLEO PRESTON has some big responsibilities for a four-year-old girl.
Apart from going to Kinder and swimming lessons, Cleo helps look after her older brother Archie, who is seven years old and suffers from a genetic condition and an inoperable tumour, which has left him unable to speak.
Cleo and Archie are avid Saints fans, and singing the Saints’ theme song ‘When the Saints go Marching in’ is one of her favourite things to do on behalf of her brother.
The Prestons are part of the Very Special Kids (VSK) charity that provides counselling and support services to families caring for a child diagnosed with a life-threatening condition.
“Before Very Special Kids, we couldn’t have even contemplated having a holiday with Cleo,” Carley, Cleo and Archie’s mother, said.
“Where would Archie go, who could look after his special needs, where would we feel comfortable? But that’s where Very Special Kids is just amazing for us. Archie is going to the House for respite care, so we are going away for ten days and taking Cleo on a plane for the first time – she is four years old and has never had a holiday before, as it has always been too difficult with Archie.”
When St Kilda captain Nick Riewoldt heard about the Preston’s story he took some time out of his holidays to visit the family at Very Special Kids this week.
“I have a huge sense of admiration for Nathaniel and Carley as parents and the people at Very Special Kids and the work they do. Clearly it’s a very difficult situation but I really admire the way they go about it,” Riewoldt said.
“Very Special Kids is a charity that needs peoples’ support and the Piggy Bank Appeal is their big fundraiser for the year so I’d certainly encourage people to jump on the website and support.”
Cleo is the face of the Piggy Bank Appeal this year, which raises much-needed funds for VSK and is hoping to rach its $1 million target before it concludes on September 30.
“She’s been the face of the promotion along with Archie and I think it’s great that she’s here to support her brother and her family. She’s done a wonderful job.
Very Special Kids House is Victoria’s only children’s hospice and it provides 24-hour specialist nursing care in a warm and welcoming environment. Children are engaged and stimulated through music and play activities, while their families take some respite from their ongoing care requirements.
It will cost around $5.5 million to operate Very Special Kids in 2013/14.
How you can support...
- Donate to Cleo’s Campaign and help support families just like the Prestons.
- Attend a CBA Piggy Bank Appeal Event this Friday 27 September in Malvern, Balaclava, Somerville, Cranbourne or Castlemaine. There will be on-site sausage sizzles, cupcake stalls and lots of other piggy activities.
- Visit Cleo’s Campaign online where you can learn about the Very Special Kids sibling program.
- Read Cleo’s story, download Cleo’s Piggy Cupcake Recipe, make your own Piggy Mask, print off Cleo’s Colouring Sheet and register to get your very own free piggy bank.
Go to piggybankappeal.com.au for more details
