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Charity Win: AFL Star Gifts Bali Holiday to Brave Family
23 Aug
Summary
- Mother of four shares family's journey with life-limiting illness.
- AFL player gifted a Bali holiday to a brave family.
- Charity supports Victorian children with life-limiting conditions.
Mel Schneider, a mother of four from Melbourne, shared her family's challenging journey with life-limiting conditions at the Very Special Kids' 22nd annual Footy Finals Fever lunch. Her 15-year-old son, Wil, has overcome numerous rare illnesses since birth, requiring extensive planning for even simple family activities.
Schneider recalled a particularly dark moment when doctors suggested palliative care for Wil. It was then she learned about Very Special Kids, a Victorian non-profit providing palliative care and family support. Wil, born prematurely, battled leukemia, chronic lung disease, epilepsy, developmental delay, and CBL syndrome.
During the charity event, AFL player Jeremy Howe won a $10,000 Bali holiday but gifted it to Schneider and Wil. This unexpected generosity brought Schneider to tears, offering a moment of joy and normalcy for the family.
Very Special Kids reports a growing demand for its services in Victoria, supporting more children at end-of-life in early 2026 than in all of the previous year. The recent event successfully raised $450,000.
