A Dinner for Hartley, a night for the community

Posted on 10 September, 2018

A lot of us take our ability to do everyday tasks for granted, not thinking twice about getting to work or eating a meal.

But for some Canberrans living with disabilities, these small occurrences can be challenging to say the least. That’s why Hartley Lifecare is proud to assist with accommodation for people with disability, their families and carers in the ACT.

Hartley is an established not-for-profit organisation that initially provided a learning facility and therapy support services for children and adults, and has now expanded to support over 30 clients in the ACT.

Now, Hartley has partnered with the Red Hill Cycling Team to present a fundraising dinner for the annual Hartley Cycle Challenge in November, which involves 260 riders, 180 support crew and 450 kilometres cycling from Canberra to Mount Kosciuszko and back.  

Lauren and Brendan Irvine are organising the Dinner for Hartley fundraising night on September 22.  The couple are parents to a child with disabilities and wanted to fundraise for a very important organisation close to their hearts.

According to Brendan, that there isn’t a lot out there for families experiencing challenges with a disabled child in their care, and they need all the support they can get.

This dinner will raise awareness not only about the cycling challenge but also about the hardship families that experience when catering to someone with a disability and the exorbitant costs involved in care.  

“It’s really a 24/7 job for families that need a highly dependent child in their care,”  he says.

Hartley specialises in round-the-clock home respite care, recreational support, independent living skills, an assistive technology program plus specialised transport services. Of course, these services cost huge sums of money.

Hartley relies on NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme) funding, corporate partners and individual donors as well as special events to raise the funds needed to enable them to expand and enhance the services they provide. The Dinner for Hartley ticket sales will be donated fully to Hartley to provide ongoing support services for people living with disability in our local community.  

The Dinner includes a two-course meal, with antipasto and calamari for entree and pizza and pasta options for the main course. The event will also showcase guest speaker Ben Gathercole, a beautiful photo wall (perfect for selfies) donated by Eventique & Co, an epic lolly buffet donated by Sueno Designs as well as a silent auction table with vouchers, artwork and other treasures donated by local businesses.

If you cannot make it to the event itself but wish to support this incredible cause, head to the Hartley website to make a tax-deductible donation. 

the essentials

What: Dinner for Hartley
Where: Doubleshot Deakin
When: 6.30 pm for a 7 pm start, September 22 2018
How much: $115
Web: More information via the Facebook event page, with RSVP to Lauren Gorman at blirvine@yahoo.com.au