Mounties Commits to Australia’s Fourth Children’s Hospice

However, it’s the unfortunate reality for thousands of parents across Australia.

According to the Medical Journal of Australia, it’s estimated that in developed nations each year, 10 per 10,000 children aged 0 to 19 years will require palliative care.

This means that, at any one time, up to 5300 Australian children in this age group will have a life-limiting condition, about half of whom may need ‘active’ palliative care.

On average, about 750 children aged 0 to 14 years are diagnosed with cancer alone each year in Australia.

Despite such as a harrowing figure, there are currently only three hospices across the country that cater for children with these life-limiting conditions, and their families.

This means there are many who will go without the specialised care and support that they deserve.

Thankfully, more services are on the way, with Mounties teaming up with the GIANTS Foundation to build the only children’s hospice in Western Sydney.

Mounties Care — a subsidiary of Mounties Group — will donate $3 million to the GIANTS Foundation to realise the vision of Rio’s Legacy.

Rio’s Legacy was established following the passing of its inspiration, Rio James Fowler, who sadly lost his life to terminal illness aged just 18 months old.

Mounties Care has also committed to support the fundraising of a further $27 million required to build Australia’s fourth children’s hospice, to be named Mounties Care Cottage.

“There is a growing demand for paediatric palliative care facilities that can provide the high need care and support for terminally ill babies and children, without families having to move away from their local area,” says Mounties Group President John Dean.

“Partnering with Rio’s Legacy and the GIANTS Foundation to provide a peaceful environment where families can stay together in Western Sydney, drawing strength from each other while receiving care by specially trained staff, brings our Mounties Care mission of improving the lives of our member communities to life.”

Mounties Care Cottage will aim to house eight children and their families at any given time, and will be designed based on the experience that Rio’s family had during their stay at Bear Cottage in Manly.

“Currently there are only three hospices nation-wide that cater for the tens of thousands of children with life-limiting conditions and their families, leaving many without the specialised care and support they desperately need,” says Ryan Fowler, Rio’s father and co-founder of Rio’s Legacy.

“This donation from Mounties Care and the GIANTS Foundation allows us to commit to the fourth.”

GIANTS Foundation Chairman Steve Tucker says that given many GWS Giants players and supporters have young kids, it was an issue that they saw as needing addressing.

“We are proud to be partnering with Rio’s Legacy and Mounties Care to build the only Western Sydney facility to provide specialised respite and end-of-life care for babies and children,” he says.

Planning is well underway, with a location for the Mounties Care Cottage soon to be announced.