Black Pearl Rosé 2011 vintage, NOW ON SALE!!!!

MEG - OUR LITTLE PEARL NEEDS YOU HELP.
Meg is 4 years old and has spastic Quadreplegic Cerebal Palsy.
We are launching the second release of Meg's rosé wine called Black Pearl.
The idea for this fundraising effort came from winemaker & family friend Eleana Anderson of Mayford Wines (www.mayfordwines.com) who has lovingly donated her time and resources.
This wine is made from donated grapes grown in the Alpine Valleys by Mayford & Michelini wines, (www.micheliniwines.com.au) and bottled with assistance from Ringer Reef Wines (www.ringerreef.com.au) and picked, bottled, labeled and packed by volunteers.
A big, huge thank you to all those who gave their time and assistance.
The rosé was certainly made with love, you can taste it in every bottle!
The funds raised from the sale of this wine will be used for Megs future needs,
including this year the purchase of her first wheelchair.
For sale at Alpine Visitor Centres, in Bright, Mt Beauty & Myrtleford, & Food, Wine, Friends in Bright or print the order form below and we will deliver! Please help us to help Meg. For wine enquiries please email Kate - casleyke@bigpond.com. Enjoy!

Monday, December 21, 2009

Myrtleford Lodge donates

Rhonda & Barry Forster from the VMMA - Bright have done it again!
Rhonda has been busy pushing the barrow for our little Meg, she has already arranged for $1000 in donations from VMMA & Bright Masons, now she has secured another donation from Myrtleford Masonic Lodge of $150.

Thanks Rhonda & thank you Myrtelford Lodge your donation is very much appreciated

This brings our running fundraising total to $55,850.00

To Donate to MegAid
Bendigo Bank
MegAid Trust
BSB 633000
Acct 137281846

Friday, December 18, 2009

Thanks to my Family for going without Presents this year

Thanks to Nan, Grandma & Grandpa Peter, Grandpa Palmer & my cousins, Ethan, Arwen, Reo, Libby & Eddie, my Aunts and uncles, Faith, Geoff, Anna, Simon, Gina, Simon & Sam for going without christmas gifts from our family this year. Mum & dad have put the money they would normally spend on presents into my MegAid trust account with their name on it for my future! We have raised $370 by doing this.
Lots and lots of Christmas Cheer to my wonderful family.

With lots of Love
Meg
xx


To Donate to MegAid
Bendigo Bank
MegAid Trust
BSB 633000
Acct 137281846

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Harritville Primary School donate $500!


Joan, Meg's respite carer and mother of a Harietteville Primary school boy Douglas - brought a cheque for $500 from the school to donate to the MegAid trust today!

I am so totaly overwhelmed with the support we have received - the families of the Little Primary school tucked up right at the end of the Ovens Valley with under 40 students do so much fundraising for their school it just means so much that they would donate some of their hard earned fundraising to our Meg.

Thankyou so much, we are truly gratefull.


This Brings our fundraising efforts to $55,700.00




To Donate to MegAid
Bendigo Bank
MegAid Trust
BSB 633000
Acct 137281846

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Eating is working

Just such fabulous news this morning I had to share it - Meg is being closely monitored for her weight as she is only just 3 weeks since she has had her last Peg feed - today she gained 120g all through eating through her mouth! The norm after being tube weaned is no weight gains for 3 - 4 months.
We are so thrilled with Meg she is eating with gusto and seems to enjoy every mouthfull.
Its such a heart warming thing for me as a mother and a chef - one of the hardest things I had to come to terms with was not being able to nourish my child so it is an extra special christmas present for me to have my girl eating!


To Donate to MegAid
Bendigo Bank
MegAid Trust
BSB 633000
Acct 137281846

Monday, December 14, 2009

WOW - What a result

It has taken me a while to establish the exact amount we have raised for the MegAid trust since starting the fundraising effort last May. I have finaly had time to sit down and work it all out.

Including the amazing donation from Qantas in providing us with 4 return tickets to Europe early next year valued at approx $7000.

We have raised as of today the most amazing amount of - $55,200.00

I have said before and i will keep saying it - to my friends, family, complete strangers and our community THANKYOU THANKYOU THANKYOU!!! We most certainly could not have done it without your hard work, efforts, love & support.

We wish you all a very Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year

With all our love

the Casley's


To Donate to MegAid
Bendigo Bank
MegAid Trust
BSB 633000
Acct 137281846

Banks surprise

I was at the Bendigo bank today depositing the coins from the MegAid tins that have been in some of our local shops - $420 worth I might add - a great addition to our fundrasing efforts - Thanks everyone for your small change.
Carmel Smith while at the teller handed over the counter a $50 donation to the MegAid trust - fundrasing effort. Thanks Carmel & Adrian Smith (Smith's tyre & Battery service) for the off the cuff donation - people continue to support our cause and we cant thank the community enough.

To Donate to MegAid
Bendigo Bank
MegAid Trust
BSB 633000
Acct 137281846

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Flower Power creates a BUZZ!









On Friday 11th Dec - Flower power for Meg was held at the Bright Footy Clubrooms - Lisa Bishop a renowned local Artist gave her time to teach us girls a thing or two about painting flowers.

The group of 19 Local Bright Women, most had never painted anything more than a wall before were amazed at how easy it was to create ART!

A fabulous day was had by all - with the help of a few bubbles to get the creative juices flowing.

The Day was organised by the wonderful Lou Pullar of Alpine Style Magazine fame who arranged the entire thing - Lunch - champers - the paint and Canvas's and the lovely Lisa to guide us through.

I have since found out that Lisa's Husband was diagnosed with a brain Tumor a few weeks ago. So our extra special thanks goes out to Lisa and her lovely girls for making time for Meg in what is a really difficult time for all of you.

Please Lisa if we can reciprocate with any help what so ever to ease your burden, don't hesitate to ask. I have recently found out what an amazing & supportive community we live in here in the North East of Victoria. If you need help just ask, We are there!

$657.50 was raised for the MegAid trust

A big thanks to Dahlsens Myrtleford for the donation of 3 huge tins of paint & all the girls who brought along plates of lovely food for us all to share for lunch.

I believe the next painting day will be Chook power how to paint Chooks - I hope more people will come along next time.

To Donate to MegAid
Bendigo Bank
MegAid Trust
BSB 633000
Acct 137281846

Monday, December 7, 2009

AMAZING NEWS!

Talk about amazing news - I received a phone call this morning letting me know that - Qantas have donated all our return economy airfares to Europe! - that's about $7000 worth of airfares! - Totally amazing and we are so incredibly grateful to Qantas for their generosity!
We are certainly on our way and are now just waiting for a treatment date in Germany before we book our flights.

Thanks so much Qantas - quite quite incredible, what a christmas present to Meg and all of us!


To Donate to MegAid
Bendigo Bank
MegAid Trust
BSB 633000
Acct 137281846

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Tube Wean a complete success!

Meg, Jason & I were discharged 3 days early from the RCH Melbourne after Meg put on weight!

She had gone 10 days with no peg feeds (only some water) and the team were astounded that after such a short time her weight increased - it was only 35g increase - but it doesnt matter - what it means is that she is actually able to eat enough to sustain herself.

I can tell you it has been a long hard Road - I always beleived that Meg could eat orally but was constantly told by "the experts" that her swallow MAY be unsafe and we had to be very cautious and that the oral motor dysfunction she displayed would prevent her from eating enough to sustain herself. I really had to battle to get the opportunity to have the support of the RCH Melbourne to try to wean Meg in a safe and supported manner, ensuring that she did not become dehydrated or loose too much weight too fast - also to be able to stay somewhere where all I had to do was concentrate on Meg and her eating - I dont think I could have done this at home - it is a really hard emotional ride - But here we are - Meg's favorite food is spaghetti bolognaise - just like her Big brother Tom - and to be honest I'm pretty partial to it also.

So I guess the moral of this story is - follow your instincts mums - you will be right!

To Donate to MegAid
Bendigo Bank
MegAid Trust
BSB 633000
Acct 137281846

Huge thanks to the Castricum Kids

While in Melbourne doing the tube wean with Meg - I had the mail brought down from home - I received a lovely and touching letter from the Castricum kids - Here it is.

Dear Kate,
recently my girls did some babysitting in town while some locals went to the "Rocky Horror show" - when they heard that it was a fundraiser for Meg they wanted to donate some of their earnings from the night, their little brother also wanted to give some of his lawn mowing money to help out!
Please accept this small donation and we hope it helps towards some much needed equipment for Meg. You guys are doing such a wonderful job, you are an inspiration.
From the Castricum kids - Harrietville.

It is incredible that kids would think of others when there is so much to buy for themselves - what an amazing family! - I hope your proud of your kids - they are truely remarkable and we accept your (not so small) donation of $100 with lots of love and heart felt thanks from the Casley family!
xxx


To Donate to MegAid
Bendigo Bank
MegAid Trust
BSB 633000
Acct 137281846