Dr Ben Norris has been volunteering with Interplast for 17 years and was eager to get back to Samoa to help more families get the life-changing surgery they are desperately waiting for.
With limited funding preventing the program from returning this year, Ben, together with fellow volunteers Associate Professor Damian Marucci and Norma Schwalger, took action and set out to fundraise with the hope of enabling a surgical program this year.
“In all the years I have been volunteering with Interplast, extended family, friends, and my own patients have told me how wonderful it is that myself and our team can help the people of Samoa. When they heard that limited funding meant our team may not be able to continue to provide a program, many asked how they could help,” Ben said
What happened next was incredible. Friends, colleagues, Ben’s own patients, and even a local community club stepped forward. Ben and Damian hoped to raise $30,000 to contribute towards the cost of the surgical program; however, their generous community of supporters exceeded their expectations, and they raised over $50,000.
Their generosity helped fund a team leaving this November.
“I was overwhelmed by the generous response I received from my friends, colleagues and even my patients, who were all willing to help,” Ben shared.
It’s incredible volunteers like Ben, Damian and Norma, their supportive community, and generous people like you that impact the lives of hundreds of adults and children all across the Pacific and Asia. By simply reaching out and asking others to join them, many more children and adults in Samoa will get the life-changing surgery they have been waiting for.
Dr Ben Norris, Associate Professor Damian Marucci and Norma Schwalger on a previous Interplast volunteer surgical program to Samoa.
“I would encourage others to fundraise as much as they can, too. We all have a much wider network than we realise, who not only want to contribute but are willing to share our story to help it reach even further,” Ben said.
Support from generous people like you and Ben helps us continue to deliver critical life-saving surgeries to families in the Pacific and Asia. You can start a fundraiser like Ben’s and fundraise any way you like. Whether you join a fun run, have a birthday fundraiser or simply share your story with friends, your actions can change lives.
To learn how you can start your own fundraiser contact, please contact our Head of Individual Giving, Rebecca Dash at rebecca.dash@interplast.org.au.
