STAFF at Orange hospital went all out to support Jeans for Genes day on Friday, to raise awareness and funds for research into childhood diseases and disorders.
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Social worker Sandra Wicks convinced her colleagues not only to wear jeans but to decorate them with flowers and stencils.
“I have a daughter with a disability so it’s a cause close to my heart,” she said.
Through her close association with CareWest she convinced her colleagues to hand over their jeans to be decorated by some of the clients of the service, which supports people with disabilities.
Tracey Menser believes her son Jack, who died 10 years ago, would be alive today with the advances in medical research.
He was diagnosed with a rare degenerative metabolic disease adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) when he was six.
The disease was the subject of the 1992 film Lorenzo’s Oil.
“One of the hardest things was knowing nothing could be done to save Jack at the time,” she said.
“We had to watch our beautiful and fun-loving boy lose all his functions.
“I don’t want other parents to have to go through the heartbreak my husband Scott and I had to go through with Jack.”
People wishing to support Jeans for Genes Day can donate online at www.jeansforgenes.org.au.
janice.harris@fairfaxmedia.com.au
