Rodney Stevens
From an occasion of extreme sadness, Grafton’s Aidan Really has shown maturity beyond his years to become an inspirational fundraiser, who, with a team of supporters has raised $70,000 for Clarence Valley oncology patients.
After his father died of cancer three-years-ago, Aidan told the CV Independent it was on the way home from his funeral that he was inspired to make a difference to the lives of local families encountering the battle with cancer.
Having shared the journey with his father, Aidan knew the costs incurred by local cancer patients travelling for regular oncology appointments, and out of the valley for radiation treatment or scans, so he began fundraising with the help of his mother, Veronica Balsamello, which has blossomed into Team Aidan, to provide $50 fuel vouchers.
The popular 14-year-old first time nominee said he was surprised when was nominated, which escalated when he was announced 2024 Clarence Valley Young Citizen of the Year, among a group of outstanding other four nominees Kaitlyn-Maree Robertson, Madeline Schroder, Scott Wright, and Tom Lavery.
“I just wasn’t expecting it, and all of a sudden, my name was announced, and I wasn’t expecting it,” he said.
Since he began fundraising more than two-years-ago, Aidan has expanded from selling cupcakes, to today, where more than 65 Clarence Valley businesses have Team Aidan donation tins proudly displayed, contributing to this community cause.
Aidan said over that time he has met many wonderful people who have assisted and inspired him.
“A lot of people have wanted to meet me and come up and say thank you very much,” he said.
“It might be just a $50 fuel voucher, but it always helps, and every time they get a voucher it’s nice to know how much it helps and see how much they appreciate it.”
Aidan thanked Reginald Buxton and Trisha Seymore for nominating him, and said he is determined to reach his goal of $100,000 raised by the end of 2024.
“We start at 5’ o’clock in the morning some days going to do fundraising and don’t finish until four o’clock in the afternoon and so far, we have raised $70,000,” he said.
“My goal is to get at least $30,000 more this year so we can get up to $100,000.”
To help achieve his goal, he said there is a huge Mother’s Day event being planned by Team Aidan, on Sunday, May 14, at the Jacaranda Hotel.
“We will have lots of fantastic stalls, flowers and entertainment, it will be similar to our Christmas event, but more about the mum’s,” he said.
Without the assistance of the valued member of Team Aidan, he said his fundraising achievements would not have been possible.
Donations can be made when you see a Team Aidan tin at a local business, by contacting Team Aidan Grafton on Facebook for bank details, or by dropping donations into You Love’m We Scrub’m Grooming Salon, 45 Queen Street, Grafton.