National Volunteer Week: Meet Leanna!
Leanna’s story so far
Leanna was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis at three months old. Her first long hospital admission was at age 3, the first of countless regular hospital visits for ‘tune-ups’ (IV antibiotics and intensive physiotherapy).
At age 9, Leanna’s lung function and weight started to decline rapidly and admissions became more frequent. It was around this age that TLC for Kids first received a case referral for Leanna, who was enduring admissions every 4 weeks, and struggling with the addition of Cystic Fibrosis Related Diabetes and nasal polyps. Throughout the years, TLC for Kids continued to support Leanna, as children with Cystic Fibrosis struggle to find support elsewhere.
During her final year of high school, Leanna missed 130 days due to her health, but still powered through to graduate with her classmates!
Leanna’s Volunteer Work
Now, at age 24, we are lucky enough to have Leanna volunteering at TLC for Kids. Leanna explained to us her difficulties finding employment:
“Due to medical instability, tertiary study and employment is out of reach at the moment. However, I am able to volunteer at TLC for Kids and gain invaluable life and work skills, in addition to contributing to a cause that supported me and my hospital friends so much through some difficult times.”
Leanna provides vital assistance around the TLC for Kids office, supporting our fundraising, marketing and events team. We believe it is crucial to equip people with chronic illnesses with development opportunities, to allow them to reach their full potential in spite of their medical needs.
As part of National Volunteer Week, we sat down with Leanna to ask her a few quick questions!
Leanna posing in our Herald Sun Tracky Dack Day shoot
What made you become a volunteer for TLC for Kids?
TLC helped my family and I out a lot as a child so when I decided to start some volunteering it was a no brainer. TLC was where I wanted to be.
What do you enjoy most about volunteering?
I enjoy seeing all the work that goes in behind the scenes. Being a TLC kid I saw the end results of all the things that TLC for Kids does but didn’t realise how much work goes into all the programs.
If someone was considering volunteering what would you tell them?
I would tell anyone thinking about volunteering to make sure you choose an organisation that feels right for you. Once you have found it go for it!
We would like to take this chance to extend a huuuuge thank you to Leanna for all that she does! Happy National Volunteer Week.
Interested in getting involved?
