Help take the sting out of Eddie's Problems
Edward James McDonald “ Eddie” was born 11th Dec 2017. Eddie has been diagnosed with Pontocerebellar Hypoplasia type 4, a rare neurodegenerative disorder and the only case of Pontocerebellar Hypoplasia in Tasmania.
Eddie is non-verbal and has motor impairments (he is fed through a gastric tube and cannot use his hands). He will never walk and so a wheelchair is a big part of his life. As he gets older, and heavier, he will need to stay in his chair whilst travelling as he will become too big to lift in and out of a car seat. As such, his mother (a single parent) will need a specially modified vehicle with a wheelchair hoist.
Eddie's Grandfather, Colin Dean, is a keen Vespa fan, and has started the initiative, "Ride for Eddie". With inspiration from Vespa (which means wasp in Italian), a group of passionate fundraisers will be riding around Tasmania in November 2021 on Vespas, wrapped in yellow to look like wasps. The aim will be to drive awareness of this very rare condition and raise funds for a van for Eddie's family.
"Ride for Eddie" will be launched on Thursday 8th April 2021, at 11am in Salamanca Square. There will be events held at various times throughout the year featuring the Vespas in the lead up to the main ride in November. Popular Tasmanian singing group CROON will perform pop-up concerts at some of these locations.
Variety Tasmania has partnered with "Ride for Eddie" in order to assist this community fundraising effort and help give Eddie a Fair-Go. You can help Eddie by donating today. All donations over $2 are tax-deductible.
Help take the sting out of living with PCH4 and give Eddie the chance of having a full life.
Extreme Make-Over Vespa Style
A huge thank you to all the corporate and individual supporters of Ride for Eddie
A big thank you to our Supporters
The real heroes who are kindly helping us achieve our goal
$21
Helen Britton
$104
Debra Dean
$314
John X Presents
Donations from Big Band show Wrest Point Showroom and Mappie.
$52
Allison Farrow
I'm so proud to know you, lads. xx
$21
Hannah Matthews
$100
Tony Evans
$21
Toni W
$26
Debbie Claridge
Good luck Eddie !!!!
$104
Maree Evans
$52
Jess Windle
$50
Anonymous
$104
Rachel Shephard
$10
Rosalie Jones
$104
Lesley Somerville
$20
Roz Pearson
All the best Eddie and Col.
$52
Tony And Julie Fox
$31
Susan Abbott
$31
Merridy Eastman
XX
$21
Sonia Grierson
All the best to all involved in the ride.
$52
Sean Colrain
$52
Sharon Llewellyn
$515
Ben Armitage
Ride on lads and get the little man a van!
$21
Nerissa & Rod
$1,000
Julie Driessen
$52
Family Sallese
Sending all our love, compassion, prayers and understanding for your journey with gorgeous little Eddie, our dear friends xxx 😘🙏
$100
Holly & Dax
Go team Eddie 😘
$47
Athena
Safe travels Colin from a fellow VCOM member
$52
Jan Sward
Many hugs and kisses xx
$104
Marshall Family Qld
$52
Andrea Street
Best wishes
$104
Sarah Warner
Good luck x
$104
Lisa Waller
Much love
$52
Amy Crosby
Best wishes Eddie and family!
$21
Anonymous
$5.02k
Muscular Dystrophy Tasmania
Dear Eddie and family, please accept this contribution from everyone involved at MDT including our committee, volunteers, and our raft of amazing supporters. We hope our contribution will encourage others to dig deep and help make this journey as easy as it possibly can be.
$21
Paula Brown
$52
Russ And Kym Lawrence
Best wishes to all the family.
$21
Adelaide Reisz
$52
Wayne Flanagan
Good luck to you all, I hope the ride is a safe success
$104
Heather Burr
Thinking of Eddie and your family with love
$26
Kathy Spencer
Well done everyone x
$104
Frank Barta
$52
Mary Jones
$50
Penny West
Happy to help this gorgeous family x
$209
Elise Archer
Best wishes to Eddie.
$104
Cheryle And Robert Bertoz
Can’t think of a better cause. Lots and lots of love x
$261
Ruth Arkins
$26
Michael And Kathy Preston
Lots of love to all
$21
Sonia Baldock
$104
Karen Westwood
Great idea. All the best!
$55
Colin Dean
This is money collected at the launch in Salamanca.
$52
Kathryn Direen
$21
Denis Simms
$52
Mandy Lowrie
Amazing Colin & friends! <3
$52
Kate Mifsud
$31
Annette Dlugogorski
Good luck!! I hope Eddie and Jess can get those new wheels 🚌 xx
$52
Carol
Good luck with your fundraising, hope you reach your goal! Travel safe on thos scooters ❤️
$52
Cheryl Sward
What a fantastic cause, all my love xx
$20
Renee Browning
Good luck Jess you do a amazing job and a Hi to Eddie and the kids!
$104
Jan Dixon
Best of luck to all x
$104
Ros Peck
With love and admiration of you all 💖
$52
Nat Belbin
You guys are super amazing, all the best in hitting your goal & big hugs to the Gorgeous Eddie 💙 Much love to you all X
$52
Moya
Ride Eddie ride!
$31
Marita & Rex Bishop
Good luck to you all
$31
Jennifer Ayers
With. Love
$20
Anonymous
$52
Diane Cerritelli
What a beautiful boy
$52
Sam, Katie, Olive And Isla
We hope Jess and Eadie get the new ride they need. And what a superstar Grandad Colin is.
$30
Mel Lennard
All the very best!
$31
Michael Dalla Fontana
What a fantastic fundraiserconcept and here’s to safe and fun times riding your Vespas around Tassie
$21
Anonymous
$52
Rowena
All the best Eddie!!
$52
David Pidd
$104
Ade Elliott
Hi Eddie, I hope the new van makes life easier for Mum. All the best
$52
Betty Shanks
Good luck to Eddie and the family. xx
$31
Martyn Family
$31
Lucy Breaden
$52
Sam, Elle, Ivy And Billie Xx
So proud of you all. You've got this.
$52
Julia Newman
All the very best, bless his little heart💝🙏
$100
Gae Williams
With love from Gae & Barb
$52
Kirby
Couldn’t think of a more deserving cause. Hope you make your goal and get the van 😊
$104
Craig & Helen Lucas
$104
Rob & Ailsa Nicholls
All the best Eddie. XO
$104
Sharon Reibel
$261
S&j Chopping
$104
Anonymous
All the very best with the fundraising effort Love you guys xx
$500
Susan & Garry Mchenry
What a great thing you are doing. We are so happy to be able to help
$10
Shane Hill
Good luck 👏🏻
$104
Deb Wilcox
$104
Munting Family
Good luck and best wishes
$52
Jill Dunham
I Just saw this story on 7 network news and wish you success with your endeavour to raise money for eddies van. I don’t know your family but Eddie looks like he is an amazing little boy. All the best to you.👏
$42
Anonymous
Wishing you all the best.
$31
Chelsie De Bomford
We support you Eddie and wish you all the best for your future.
$52
Fiona Young
$104
Lyndel & Pete
$10
Alison Fox
$104
Anonymous
$21
Samantha Maxwell
Just saw Eddie and family on the news <3 jumped straight online o donate :)
$78
Tracie Acreman
$104
Wiggins Family
We hope this helps reach your goal for Eddie 🤞
