THE heart-rending story of a young woman’s personal struggle to overcome feelings of worthlessness after having an abortion and the strength to have another baby was an extraordinary moment at the Pregnancy Crisis Inc fundraising lunch in Brisbane on March 27.
Tears streamed down the faces of many of the 270 people who attended the lunch at Clairvaux MacKillop College, Upper Mt Gravatt, while they listened to the story of the woman’s journey.
The testimony, read by a PCI supporter, outlined the woman’s struggle through emotional and physical abuse by her husband, having an abortion and then meeting PCI founders Alan and Patti Camp who supported her through her second pregnancy and the birth of her daughter.
“She’s an incredibly brave young woman,” Mr Camp said.
Mr Camp said about $6500 was raised at the event.
He said donations were down on last year’s fundraiser, but he said this could be due to other appeals already held this year including the Haiti earthquake appeal
Mr Camp said the organisation has set up houses on the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast, but the accommodation in Brisbane was full.
He said the organisation needed to raise about $150,000 to relocate a house donated to PCI to be set up to help clients in Brisbane.
“We are nowhere near that,” he said.
“Any donations would be greatly appreciated.”
PCI provides 24-hours-a-day service, seven days a week, 365 days a year to support women needing help.
PCI services range from provision of trained support personnel for women with crisis pregnancies, baby packs for impoverished families for up to six months and short-term crisis accommodation.
Bishop Anthony Fisher of Parramatta was the keynote guest speaker at the fundraiser.
He gave an erudite dissertation on stem-cell research and the ethical issues surrounding the use or embryonic stem cells.
Brisbane auxiliary Bishops Joseph Oudeman and Brian Finnigan attended the lunch where guests were treated to a musical smorgasbord from the Warwick Adeney Strings, Brisbane signer Neil Ballment and the St Paul’s Tongan Choir.
To donate to or contact Pregnancy Crisis Inc phone 1300 777 777 or email pcrisis@bigpond.com
