With an ambitious goal to establish the first affordable family accommodation facility near the Sunshine Coast University Hospital, the 2018 Wishlist Spring Carnival has raised over $125,000 in just four hours.

Thanks to the generosity of the Sunshine Coast community at Friday’s event, Wishlist can continue to work towards building the much-needed accommodation facility.

“We are thrilled to announce this tally,” Wishlist CEO Lisa Rowe said.

“Many families are travelling great distances to support their loved-ones, often children, undergoing life-saving treatment at our Sunshine Coast University Hospital.

“We are so very grateful and excited to announce that Wishlist have taken the first steps to secure a piece of land within walking distance of the hospital, with plans to build a house to accommodate a number of guests—ensuring families can stay together when family love and support matters most”.

Guest speaker at the event, Deborah Love, talked to the 540-strong crowd at Friday’s fundraiser, about the importance of family accommodation after losing her son James, age 7, to Brain Cancer in 2016.

“The money raised at this event, you might think, will buy the land, or bricks and mortar. You might also think it will buy material or the cost of labour. But this is not as significant as what this fantastic facility will really buy—time. Family time, which might not be possible any other way”, Mrs Love said.

“It will give the chance of laughter. It will allow for time out, or to be normal for a few moments. It will provide opportunities to create beautiful memories, which, for some, might be all they leave with”.

In the first 12 months of the Sunshine Coast University Hospital opening, 1089 paediatric patients, who lived more than 50km from the hospital, were treated. Another 340 mums who live outside our region were transported to our state-of-the-art maternity unit to deliver their babies – often pre-term.

Friday marked the 10th annual Wishlist Spring Carnival Gala, which has raised more than $1.2 million.

The event was hosted by two of television’s most popular personalities, Sunrise’s Natalie Barr and Mark Beretta, and included an intimate performance from rock legend, Jon Stevens.

“The day was a great success, truly highlighting the fantastic community we live in,” Ms Rowe said.