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Gallery

Photos from our 2021 Shine Bright Gala

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Sponsorship

We would like to thank and acknowledge our sponsors:

JCA Land Consultants
Powercom
Store My Van
Bold Interiors Australia
Brian McCartin & Co
Eastern Podiatry
evimero finance

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Harrison’s Story

Harrison Pennicott is unlike any other 10 year old you have met.

He has been fighting for his life for 6 years, and he has gone through so much for a little boy, but yet he makes us all smile every day. Harrison shows us all how to live life and be positive no matter what life may throw at you.

Harrison suffers from a rare disease called Scleroderma. He was diagnosed 10 months after his first admission to the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, and has the rarest form called Disabling Pansclerotic Morphea.

After 2 years of trying conventional medical treatments including steroids, various immunosuppressant drugs, IVIG (intravenous Immunoglobulin) and his teams of doctors searching the world to get him the help he deserves, his parents were told in June 2018 that the only way to help him was to have a Stem Cell Transplant which took part in September 2018. Unfortunately, by April 2019 this transplant was deemed unsuccessful and his big brother Miller stepped up and donated his cells.

In July 2020 Harrison’s parents were called into a meeting to be told that the 2nd transplant had also failed, they were faced with a tough decision but even though the medical team didn’t have an answer they didn’t stop. December 2020 Harrison started a treatment called Extrocorporeal Photophersis (ECP) and after 3 weeks of intense treatment his body responded the best it has ever before. Harrison’s body has suffered so much losing four fingers and damage which can’t be repaired over time. ECP is a therapy not a cure but in January 2022 Harrison’s medical team advised the family that Harrison is in remission from Scleroderma, this was the most wonderful news for Harrison with him having minimal hospital visits so back at school and even joined a soccer team. Treatment will continue on a monthly basis and I’m sure there will be more operations, procedures over the years but we are enjoying life.

As this disease is so rare, Scleroderma Victoria and Melbourne University have founded a PHD Scholarship in Harrison’s name to enable further research into Scleroderma in the hope of finding a cure.

In support of this research we are holding the Shine Bright Gala to raise money that will go directly to the Harrison Pennicott PHD Scholarship for this research.