Public answers call for help
IT DID not take long for Robert Chambers to potentially change the life of a young Filipino boy with a hideous tumour.
The Maroochydore man has been inundated with offers to help nine-year-old Aljon Ebana, who has a bulbous growth on his forehead which is forcing his left eye closed.
His plight appeared in Friday's Daily and Mr Chambers vowed to do what he could to raise the $500 needed for a scan to pass onto Sydney surgeon Dr Charles Teo to see if the tumour could be removed.
Mr Chambers had met the boy and his family during a trip to the Filipino town of Talisyan.
One donor has already pledged the full $500 after reading the Daily article and Mr Chambers said he had received calls from church groups and Rotary clubs.
A local couple who read the story had called offering $300.
"I'm surprised by the support. It's been amazing," Mr Chambers said.
"We hope to keep the momentum going for at least the next week. I'm going to open an
account in Westpac this week for all the funds.
"They walked over to my place with their dog and just gave us the money. It was incredibly generous. We'd love to keep the momentum going for a week and see where we are then."
He had been taking the names and addresses of everyone who had donated so he could pass a list onto Aljon's family.
Should the scans reveal an operation is not possible, he will contact donors to see what they want to do with the money.
"We could end up donating it to the family," he said.
To help, contact Mr Chambers on 5479 6161, 0409 380 375 or robertapcs@y7mail.com.
