Tasmania's greyhound racing community has helped five-year-old Baylee Robertson's family reach their goal of buying a wheelchair-accessible van, with a $15,000 fundraising donation pushing the appeal past its $65,000 target.
The Hobart Greyhound Racing Club led the fundraising effort, with a silent auction held last month attracting support from racing participants and Tasmanian businesses.
Baylee lives with partial Trisomy 11q, level-four cerebral palsy, spinal curvature and hip dysplasia.
She is non-verbal and has complex care needs, including the use of a feeding tube and powered wheelchair.
Baylee’s mother, Melissa Tyrrell, said the donation had helped the family reach a goal that would make a considerable difference to their everyday lives.
“Achieving this goal is critical for our family,” she said.
“At the moment we are using a car seat in the car to transport her, and getting her in and out, as well as setting up and taking Baylee’s wheelchair, is an effort and a lot of work, especially when it’s only one of us.
"The support we've received has been overwhelming. The greyhound community's donation helped us reach our target, and we're so grateful to everyone who contributed.
“We want to give a heartfelt thank you to everyone in the greyhound community for this generous donation.”
The family can now move forward with making the necessary changes to the van to meet Baylee’s needs.
Hobart Greyhound Racing Club spokesperson Claire Robins said racing participants and Tasmanian businesses had overwhelmingly supported the appeal.
“This was a cause that touched a lot of people," she said.
"The response from participants, clubs, businesses and supporters was incredible.
"This donation is about far more than helping purchase a wheelchair-accessible van. It's about showing Baylee and her family that they have an entire community standing beside them."
The club’s fundraising effort contributed almost a quarter of the family’s overall target, helping put the purchase of a suitable van within reach.
For Baylee and her parents, it means something simple but profound: the ability to get where they need to go with greater safety, dignity and independence.