FIVE hundred people trekked eight kilometres from All Hallows School to the Planetarium raising more than $65,000 towards building Helèna’s House, a safe place for people with disabilities to live independently, on November 14.
Helèna McIlwain worked at not-for-profit BestLife Foundation, which trains children and young adults with a disability by offering a house mates program.
She tragically died from a pulmonary embolism on October 13, 2019.
Helèna’s mum and Helèna’s House co-founder Fiona McIlwain thanked everyone for showing their support at the Sunset Starwalk and keeping Helèna’s legacy alive.
She said the walk was a spectacular success.
She said the amount raised at the walk brought the year’s fundraising total to $400,000 to help build the house.
“The concept plans by architects Archr Designs are ready to go and our search for a suitable parcel of land is in underway,” she said.
“Woollam Constructions will project manage and will oversee the build.
“Thank you for the support in keeping Helena’s legacy alive she was a young compassionate intelligent woman who was wise beyond her years.”
She said Helena’s House would be a safe space for young adults with disability and learn life skills, make friends and build emotional resilience for independent living.
This is conducted through the HOUSE MATES program which Helena was a key member, she said.
“She believed everyone should have friends and not be isolated,” she said.
The walk also had a group of virtual walkers in Chinchilla, Adelaide, Perth and Sydney as well as New York, Paris, Nashville, Canada, Bournemouth and London in the UK.
“It’s a walk with a difference,” Fiona said leading up to the event, “having support from all around the world for Helena’s House”.
