Komatsu employee Lee Riley knows the importance of outside support when your child is diagnosed with a life-changing illness. In 2021, Lee and his family were told that doctors had found a brain tumour on his son’s brain. Thankfully, his son had it quickly removed and has now made a remarkable recovery.
During the diagnosis and treatment, the Brainchild Foundation reached out to the Riley family to provide support. The Brainchild Foundation is a small organisation that raises awareness on brain and spinal tumours in children, supports children and their families, and promotes groundbreaking research that aims to improve the treatment and outcomes of children with tumours.
In 2023, the Riley family were invited to attend the Brainchild Foundation’s annual camp for families of children that have been affected by a brain tumour.
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“It was at the camp where I was really encouraged by the resilience of all the children that have been affected,” Lee says.
When Lee returned from the camp, he felt inspired to apply for a Komatsu Live your Dream grant to support the 2024 camp and have a chance to be able to give back to the foundation that helped his family.
The Live your Dream program is a Komatsu employee initiative that sees selected employees partnering with their chosen not-for-profit organisation to raise awareness and funds. Part of this program is a $10,000 grant to the charity from Komatsu.
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“I wanted to show support and donate my grant towards funding for the Brainchild Foundation’s annual camp. My donation will go towards funding to help regional families fly to Brisbane and attend the camp, giving them access to support they might not usually get due to their rural living situation.
“The camp gives families a chance to meet others who have been through similar experiences in an informal, healthy, and relaxed environment. It’s a weekend full of fun, food and activities we all get to enjoy after an enduring period. It was a highlight for our family after a difficult time, and I want other families going through similar situations to experience that too.”
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Lee was encouraged by his branch manager Andrea Smith to apply for the grant.
“Andrea was there for myself and my family during the ordeal we went through and has continued to be there for us over the years following. If it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t have applied. I am ever so grateful for her support and of course the support of Komatsu,” Lee says.