Tenterfield community members are banding together to raise funds for a 12-year-old Tenterfield boy fighting against cancer.
A raffle, auction and trivia night are already planned to raise money to help with the costs associated with the lifesaving treatment needed for 12-year-old leukaemia patient Brady Thrift.
Tenterfield policeman Shaun Bird is organising the events with Kim Landers and has approached a number of local businesses and services to assist with offsetting as much of the Thrift family's costs linked with Brady's treatment as possible.
"The Thrift family has been in Tenterfield for a long time and are a big part of the community, through schools and sporting clubs," Mr Bird said.
"The family is going through some tough times, and when a family is in trouble the community needs to pitch in and help wherever we can."
Even the Gold Coast Titans are pitching in.
The Gold Coast Titans and Mitre 10 donated a framed and signed Titans jersey that will be one of the main raffle prizes. Mr Bird said that the Gold Coast Titans' five-eight Preston Campbell personally came to the police station and delivered it himself.
Mr Bird said that he was looking for donations of money or objects from people, businesses and the community as well as any other assistance they can provide.
At this stage, the raffle is planned to be drawn in December, just in time to make the prize a good Christmas present for one lucky dad, Mr Bird said.
Brady's father, John Thrift, said, "We've been overwhelmed by the support coming from Tenterfield, absolutely blown away with the support from the town.
"Brady is going really well at the moment, the best he's been in over three months. It's like walking on a tight rope a lot of the time, we're always on a narrow path. Things will be going along fine and then something might topple him over the side."
A fortnight ago, for example, Mr Thrift said that Brady was planning a trip to the Sunshine Coast for a walk along the beach after that week's dose of chemotherapy. But only hours later, after a bad reaction to one or more of the treatments he had received, Brady needed four doctors and three nurses just to keep his airways open.
Money raised will go towards covering the incidental costs of the treatment, including accommodation expenses, phone bills, parking and transport costs.
Although the Brisbane accommodation expenses of the Thrift family is partially subsidised, the family still needs to pay between 20 and 30 dollars a night and bill has accumulated over the last seven months.
Transport costs are another large expense for the family. John and Sheree's youngest son Cassidy still lives and schools in Tenterfield, which means that at least one the Thrift parents spends most of their time in either Tenterfield, Brisbane or travelling between.
Mr Thrift said that Brady has still managed to stay positive throughout the seven months since his move to the Royal Brisbane Children's Hospital.
"Brady has the most fantastic attitude, he's very strong mentally, he has never been negative once," Mr Thrift said.
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