SOC & JENKO

As most of you have seen throughout COVID-19, Stephen O’Connor (SOC) has grown a beard and a big mop of hair. Although SOC has become quite fond of his new look, for a very worthy cause, he will happily depart with the beard (unshaven since March 2020) and also cut the locks (he hasn’t visited a hairdresser since November 2019).

Sam Jenkinson (JENKO) was fighting for his life since being diagnosed in September 2020 with a very rare autoimmune disease - Neuromyelitis optica (NMO). Sam’s attack is one of the most severe ever seen in Australia and he now has lesions on his brain, brainstem and spinal cord.

Sam is a great friend, a son, a brother, a husband to Claire and the best Dad to Matilda (8 years old), Tom (6 years old) and Oliver (only 7 months old). Matilda and our 8yr old daughter, Jemima, have been friends since starting in prep together at Solway Primary School in 2018. Since his diagnosis, Sam and his family's life has been turned completely upside down.

We adore this family and want to raise some money to help Sam walk again!! Prior to Sam’s NMO diagnosis, he was a healthy 37 year old from Melbourne who loved to stay active, spend time with his young family and be with his mates.

The ongoing costs for physiotherapy and other treatments are substantial and all funds raised will go directly to help with these costs. We would be grateful for any donation you can contribute to literally help Sam get back on his feet.

In the process, Chuck Noland, Tom Petrovski, Otto, Ned Kelly, Forrest Gump and Aqua Man (SOC’s favourite although this is the least likely of all) will no longer reside on Solway Street, Ashburton.

Sam has certainly inspired us. Chuck Noland (Castaway) put it very eloquently: “So now I know what I have to do. I have to keep breathing. And tomorrow the sun will rise, and who knows what the tide will bring in”.

Thank you very much for your generosity.

Lucinda