OPTUS HELPS MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY AUSTRALIA SUPPORT CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

Optus funding has helped Melbourne’s Muscular Dystrophy Australia (MDA) provide 20 children affected by muscular dystrophy with the opportunity to attend a five day camp aimed at increasing their social skills, while also providing families and carers with the opportunity to take a break.

Supported with funding of $9,500 from this year’s Optus Community Grants program, MDA will cover the cost for children to attend CampMDA, a short term respite camp organised by MDA. The camp is designed especially for children with muscular dystrophy to interact and engage with others also affected by the degenerative muscular condition.

Boris Struk, Executive Director of MDA, said, “CampMDA is all about providing a safe and supportive environment for children with neuromuscular disorders to have fun. The Optus Community Grant has made it possible for us to help children attend our camp, while offering families and carers respite from the sometimes overwhelming task of caring for someone with a neuromuscular disease.”

CampMDA offers children five days of fun and stimulating activities including arts and crafts, visits from the creatures at the local zoo and fire brigade demonstrations. These activities help to increase the children’s social skills and integrate within the wider community. At the same time, the camp allows carers and families to take some much needed time off, with the assurance that their children are properly cared for.

Helen Maisano, Associate Director Corporate Social Responsibility at Optus said, “We are delighted to have been able to use our Community Grants program to help the Muscular Dystrophy Association continue to support Melbourne’s community through CampMDA.

“Optus sees a real community benefit investing in an organisation that helps enhance lives within the community, providing support so that children at CampMDA are able to have fun while interacting with others who face similar circumstances.”

The annual Optus Community Grants program awards funding of up to $10,000 to not-for-profit organisations that provides a range of support services to its surrounding community. Over the past five years, Optus has donated almost $1.2 million to more than 200 community organisations across Australia.

For more information on the ‘yes’ Optus Community Grants program please visit https://www.optus.com.au/shop/aboutoptus/communitygrants.

Contact Details:

Fuel Communications: 02 8217 6500/ Optus@fuelcommunications.com.au