Author Lisa Gilmer has written a children’s book to raise money for the Gold Coast Hospital Foundation. The book has been published thanks to a $7500 donation by Villa World.
The Gold Coast-based publicly listed developer was quick to support the production of the book entitled The Very Stripy Dachshund after learning the author had experienced first-hand the support of the Gold Coast Hospital Foundation upon being diagnosed with brain cancer. While undergoing treatment, Gilmer wrote The Very Stripy Dachshund which was inspired by her very own dachshund Maddy. The book was a means for Gilmer to pay it forward, and give back to the foundation which provided her transport to and from treatment appointments for three years. Gilmer said the Cancer Patient Transport Service made it possible for her to endure regular, ongoing appointments and treatment since leaving the hospital. “I couldn’t have done it without Gold Coast Hospital Foundation because their bus service and staff are awesome,” Lisa said. “With little means to support myself and Mum unable to work because she was caring for me it has been an extremely challenging and stressful situation and the Cancer Patient Transport Service is an absolute lifeline.”
The Cancer Patient Transport Service makes more than 7000 journeys helping local patients get to and from hospital for vital treatment each year. The Gold Coast Hospital Foundation partnered with Villa World to produce the first 1000 copies of The Very Stripy Dachshund. The book is a light-hearted children’s story which takes its readers on a farm journey where they meet an array of weird and wonderful animals including a zebra striped dachshund. Villa World general manager of sales and marketing Robyn Valmadre said Villa World had been inspired by Lisa’s story and were proud to be sponsoring such an important book.
“The funds from book sales will go directly to the Gold Coast Hospital Foundation which will assist in providing services like transport for patients undergoing treatment and necessary items within the wards as well. It’s a touching story to hear that Lisa put in the effort to write this book purely for the benefit of others in what would have been a truly testing time and we’re incredibly proud to have supported such a worthy cause,” Valmadre said.
