By Helena Adeloju
This year’s Very Special Kid’s Treadmill Challenge will raise money to continue supporting Berwick’s Ritchie family as well as other families that are suffering from bereavement.
The challenge will see treadmills running around the clock for 24 hours from 9am Friday 26 May with the aim of raising $800,000.
The Treadmill Challenge event will be held in at the Very Special Kids Hospice in Malvern.
Celebrities, DJs and massage crews will be on hand to motivate the teams of runners while they complete the challenge in support of children in 24-hour care.
Avah Ritchie was just two years old when she passed away in the Very Special Kids Hospice after spending much of her short life in hospital.
That was five years ago and the Richie family still feel the pain of loss.
Born at just 25 weeks old, Avah weighed only 425g and had a rare genetic disorder, cerebral palsy, heart issues, and chronic lung disease and was unable to communicate verbally.
She spent 19 out of 25 months of her life in hospital.
Avah and her older sister Kennedy were inseparable during the two years they had together.
They enjoyed dressing up, putting on puppet shows and watching movies together.
After Avah passed away, Kennedy, who was then five years old, struggled through the grief of losing her young sister.
Christian Richie and his wife Amanda said they can’t imagine how they would have coped without the assistance they received.
“Very Special Kids have been a huge support to our family, especially in the months leading up to Avah’s death and the following years,” Mr Ritchie said.
Kennedy, now 10, continues to receive support from attending the regular bereaved sibling days at Very Special Kids.
“We don’t have a lot of family and Kennedy doesn’t want to talk to her friends about Avah, but sibling days give her the opportunity to talk about her,” Mrs Ritchie said.
The Ritchies also have a family home volunteer named Lauren provided for Kennedy through Very Special Kids.
“Lauren is like a big sister. If Kennedy didn’t have her she might be missing out, they get along so well, which is absolutely wonderful.”
This year the family will be participating in the Treadmill Challenge for the fifth time.
To sponsor a runner or to make a donation to support families like the Ritchies, visit www.vsktreadmill.org.au.
