By Melissa Grant
Fountain Gate teenager Riley Collard is on a mission to save his beloved nanna’s eyesight.
Having been diagnosed with degenerative eye disease that’s slowly making her go blind, Riley’s nanna desperately needs four laser eye surgeries to prevent further damage.
“If she doesn’t have it (the surgeries) quickly she will lose most of her eyesight if not all of it,” Riley explained.
His nanna, Annette, has the surgeries booked but can’t afford them.
“She’s on the pension and the cost for each session is just less than the amount she gets per fortnight,” Riley said.
“It’s very difficult.”
Unfortunately due to the coronavirus pandemic, Riley’s family doesn’t have the financial stability to cover the cost of his nanna’s surgeries.
So the teen has started a GoFundMe campaign in the hope of raising $2200 for his nanna.
The idea of starting the GoFundMe campaign came to Riley as he had been involved in a previous campaign for a friend who had stomach cancer.
“Our footy team all shaved our heads to raise money for him,” he said.
Riley has also offered to shave or dye his hair if he reaches his fundraising goal.
He hopes the funds are raised quickly for his nanna, who he has been close to throughout his entire childhood.
When he was younger, he would sleepover at his nanna’s house most weekends and spent a lot of time with her while his mother was working.
Despite their close relationship, Annette has no idea about the fundraiser.
“We haven’t told her because we want to keep it a surprise until we raise it all,” Riley said.
To contribute to Riley’s fundraiser, click HERE
