MARK YOUR CALENDAR: WISHLIST GIVING DAY THURS, MARCH 27 2025!
Every contribution, big or small, plays a crucial role in transforming lives just like Madi’s.
Join us for 12 hours of excitement and generosity, all aimed at supporting public hospitals on the Sunshine Coast and Gympie through the provision of medical equipment, research, education and patient support services.
It is the ONE day of the year where donations are doubled, thanks to our generous corporate matchers.
We are urgently calling out for volunteer callers to ‘hit the phones’ for two hours on Thursday, March 27 to help us ‘phone the Coast’ telethon-style.
In 2024, more than $280,000 was raised during the 12-hour appeal and it’s largely thanks to the dozens of corporate callers who come into the Sunshine Coast University Hospital who call Wishlist supporters and their own networks.
There are so many ways you can give a little and help a lot this Wishlist Giving Day.
You could organise a crazy dress up day, bake and sell some delicious treats, organise a raffle or hop on one of our phones and ask your family and friends to make a donation.
The brave face of Wishlist Giving Day this year is five-year-old Maddi, who’s life took an unexpected turn in March last year when a sudden illness, first believed to be a simple virus, became a life-threatening battle and worst nightmare for parents Ben and Kylie.
After multiple visits to their local GP with no improvement, Maddi’s condition continued to deteriorate when one morning she became unresponsive while in her father’s arms and was rushed to the Emergency Department at Sunshine Coast University Hospital (SCUH).
Doctors at SCUH immediately resuscitated Maddi and performed urgent tests, diagnosing her with bacterial meningitis - a rare and life-threatening infection of the membranes surrounding her brain and spinal cord.
When her condition failed to improve, Maddi was transferred to the Royal Brisbane Children’s Hospital, where a team of specialists worked tirelessly to identify the strain of bacteria causing her illness to ensure the correct treatment.
With Mum and Dad never leaving their daughter’s side, Maddi endured countless tests that no five-year-old should face, including four lumbar punctures, blood work, MRIs, and X-rays.
After six weeks in hospital of fear and uncertainty, Maddi began to recover, giving her family hope.
Whilst follow up tests continue for Maddi, doctors believe that the youngster has been fortunate enough to make a full recovery.
Ben and Kylie are sharing the journey of their resilient daughter Maddi, with the aim to bring hope and inspiration to other families facing similar struggles.
“Without the health teams at SCUH and Brisbane, we wouldn’t have our Maddi with us today. We’re so grateful, and we want to give back to help other families,” Kylie says.
Watch Maddi's story:
