As you’re all aware; our surrounding regions in SE QLD and Northern NSW have recently been totally and utterly devastated by floods. There is more devastation and heartache than we are able to describe.
Many of our patients lost absolutely everything, including the shoes on their feet. The weeks that followed proved even more concerning with many of our valued patients feet breaking down, ulcerating and getting infections due to the horrible conditions underfoot, no clean water and limited access to medical care. Many people had nowhere safe to live or even sit down to rest in a clean, dry area. Sadly for many, this is still the case.
Our team were feeling helpless, with our own clinic and office flooded we had to take time to ‘get back on our feet’ too. Many of our team, friends and family were also affected first hand by this weather tragedy. We took time to brainstorm, pulled together and used the resources that we do have to come up with a plan. With the help of the amazing community around us, we were able to donate hundreds and hundreds of pairs of footwear to those in need.
With the help of our community, other local podiatrists and Boots for One and All many of these shoes went deserving feet in Lismore, Ballina and other communities in the Northern Rivers as well as remote communities in the Alice Springs, Groote Eylandt, Darwin and Boggabilla.
We want to thank everyone in the community who donated footwear and socks and to the other local podiatrists on the Gold Coast who also helped make this happen, especially Dan Cavanagh who worked tirelessly to facilitate trips to Lismore and helping ‘those on the ground’.
We feel it’s important to show we are ‘the podiatrists who really care’. This mighty donation has hundreds of flood affected feet donned with new shoes and socks. We’ve continued to be so inspired by our local communities who have really shown the Australian spirit by helping thy neighbours.
To those still struggling and reading this, please reach out and we will continue to help.