Stuart Clarke Appeal log cutting
Published Date: 09 Jul 2013
Summary
Central Western Daily By NADINE MORTON
SWEAT, grit and determination by volunteer firefighters has gone into helping a mate in his time of need.
Orange Rural Fire Brigade captain Stuart Clarke desperately needs a kidney transplant, but before he can have the live-saving surgery he needs to lose weight. While the transplant cost is covered, the gastric sleeve surgery to help him lose 30 kilograms will cost $15,000. The weight loss surgery is classified as elective and he and his wife are unable to afford it.
But his need for a new kidney is so urgent, it would take him too long to lose the weight naturally.
On Friday volunteer firefighters held their first fundraiser for Mr Clarke. They chopped 30 tonnes of wood to be raffled off to raise funds.
"Without them I don't think we could pull it off. The generosity of the RFS [NSW Rural Fire Service] is just amazing," his wife Leeanne said.
Canobolas RFS zone manager, Superintendent David Hoadley said the zone hoped to raise the money as quickly as possible to help Mr Clarke get his surgery completed.
"They're going to raffle two bins of wood every week. We're going to do everything we can to help,"?he said.
Mrs Clarke said her husband was on regular dialysis while he waited to have his weight loss surgery and his transplant.
"It keeps him going because his kidneys are not functioning really at all. He really needs to get the weight off so he can get on the transplant list," she said.
Mr Clarke was diagnosed with kidney disease in 1998 and chronic kidney failure in 2010.
He Clarke has been an RFS volunteer for 20 years and Mr Hoadley said has always given his time to help his local community.
"I hope as many member s of the community Stuart Clarke helps protect can give a little so he can be there to continue protecting the community during their time of need," he said.
Tickets cost $2 each, three for $5 or 15 for $20 and can be purchased through RFS Canobolas Zone Fire Control, 1385 Forest Road.
