Danielle Burnet would face an impossible choice without the St Paul’s College chaperoned bus service. She would have to decide which of her two sons, Sebastian, 9, and Charlie, 7, she could take to school.

The boys have Multiple Sulphatase Deficiency, a debilitating condition that requires them to have 24-hour care. Because they are both in wheelchairs, they cannot both fit in the family car.

The mother of four shared her story during last year’s fundraiser, the Build a Bus appeal, to raise enough money to buy a new bus for the school. The aim was to get even more students onto the chaperoned school bus service and to this wonderful schoo in Kew, run by Villa Maria Catholic Homes.

“If I didn’t have the bus, I would only be able to take one child to school, which would be quite sad because I have seen the boys thrive on the bus and at school,” she said.

When she shared her story, one that is also faced by other parents at the school, she was deeply touched by the outpouring of support. The campaign resulted in more than $220,000 raised for the appeal to buy a new bus and pay for running costs.

“I was incredibly moved at the response to the campaign. For people to read the article, then to consider supporting and then to actually donate! Gosh, that’s moving,” she said.

“There are so many worthy causes out there and for a reader to feel enough to want to help care for not just my children but for all the angels our school bus carries is humbling.” 

She wrote a message of thanks to everyone who donated to the appeal and we’d like to share it.

Danielle’s message of thanks

When you face a difficult situation in life that is out of your control and life changing in a hard way, it can be a lonely path to travel. You instantly become isolated from the normal realm you have lived for so long, and my family falls in to this category. But so do so many people I have met in life. Everyone has a story and everyone has experienced hardship. 

That is why when the story of Build a Bus came about, I was incredibly moved at the response to the campaign. For people to read the article, then to consider supporting and then to actually donate! Gosh, that’s moving. 

There are so many worthy causes out there and for a reader to feel enough to want to help care for not just my children but for all the angels our school bus carries is humbling. 

Our community is standing by our kids and I’m not just thankful for that I’m incredibly proud.

Big thanks from the Burnet Family.

Special thanks to these generous supporters of the Build a Bus campaign:

The Collier Charitable Foundation

The New York Lap4Life Relay, Lisa Buxton and Ariel Lakman

St Columba’s College, Essendon

The Pamela and Lorenzo Galli Foundation

Br Gerard Trust

The 2015 Dinner & Art with Heart fundraising evening

The 2015 Charity Golf Day