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A BENDIGO family who have been through terrible heartache in recent times have been given a moving surprise live on radio.
On Friday morning Paul, Sue and Tara Johns appeared live on 91.9 Star FM’s breakfast program with Alex and Flick to promote the open day fundraiser they will host on Saturday at their newly renovated home, as seen on television series Reno Rumble – or so they thought.
But during the segment the family was surprised with two sets of smartphones and virtual reality headsets for donation to health services, to help patients escape the tedium of treatment.
Their late daughter and sister Beccky used such technology to explore the apartment of The Block winners Dean and Shay Paine while she was in isolation during cancer treatment late last year, something Mr Johns said uplifted her and had a positive impact on her mind and health.
But it didn’t end there – they were also gifted three return airfares to New York, Beccky’s favourite city and the place she one day hoped to take her family to say thank you for all they had done.
The touching and unexpected gifts were received gratefully by an emotional Johns family.
The family plans to give a smartphone and headset to The Alfred hospital, where Beccky was treated, and the other set to the Big Red Kidney Bus, a mobile dialysis unit operated by Kidney Health Australia.
Beccky passed away in November last year from non-Hodgkin lymphoma, which was caused by the anti-rejection medication she had to take for the two kidney transplants she underwent for a lifelong kidney condition.
It was her love of renovation reality television shows and a chance meeting with The Block’s Dean and Shay that led to her family home being transformed on Reno Rumble earlier this year.
The gifts were donated by Adam Mackenzie from BLS Financial on behalf of the Bendigo community.
He said he had had conversations with Beccky about her desire to renovate her parents’ home and learnt of her New York dream watching the program.
“I just saw the opportunity to complete the dream,” Mr Mackenzie said.
He said the family’s story had touched many people, so the surprise was also a way to say thank you for sharing their story.
The impact of their story was evident in comments on the Facebook live stream of the radio segment.
“Sending a big congratulations on your house and a big hug of support to your family,” Bec Pithie said.
“Love the Johns family you guys are beautiful and have been through so much!” Kristy Grimes-McBride said.
On Saturday the Johns family will open the doors of their revamped home to the public to raise money for the Beccky Johns Kidney Discovery Trust, a trust set up in Beccky’s honour to fund research into non-carcinogenic anti-rejection medication for transplant patients.
The open inspection day will be held at 2 Tomlins Street Bendigo on Saturday, May 7, from 10am to 2pm, with entry by gold coin donation.
Donations can also be made online at the Kidney Health Australia website or by calling 1800 454 363.
