Record-Breaking Night Helps Sick Kids Smile

By Sarah Healey on July 15, 2014 in News

It’s not every Friday night at the pub that you’ll witness people from all walks of life coming together and digging deep to support a local dad and his outstanding charity, giving hope to seriously ill children in hospital.

For the first time ever, the annual Forever Johnno Monster Raffle for Sick Kids was held at the Coogee Bay Hotel and the event celebrated its biggest success in the fourteen years since it was established, raising a record $14,185 for the Liver Transplant Unit (Clancy Ward) at Westmead Children’s Hospital, where Mal Ward’s beloved son Johnno received much of his care before he passed away in 2008 from Childhood Liver Disease.

Mal’s infectious personality and inspirational drive to help sick children was evident on the night, with well over 250 people packing the floor at Selina’s, looking to win some fantastic prizes, rub shoulders with local celebrities and share a beer or seven with Mal himself, who was also celebrating turning the big 5-0 on the night.

A number nurses from the Clancy Ward attended, as did Mark Minehan, owner of the Royal Standard Hotel in Melbourne, who also keeps the memory of Johnno alive by holding a sister event at his pub. It raised a whopping $5,500 this year.

“There’s a growing contingency of Melbournians who travel to Sydney in support of Johnno and next year I’m hoping to see a few more Sydneysiders in Mexico to help sick kids and their families get through one of the toughest times that no family should have to endure,” Mal said.