Celebrating Community, Connection, and Generosity: A Look Back at Our 2025 Fundraising Celebration & Benevolent Bear Auction
What an incredible afternoon we shared at our annual Fundraising Celebration on 10 August! Held at the beautiful Barn on Flaxton, the event brought together supporters, patients, volunteers, and community members to raise awareness and vital funds for people living with Parkinson’s and the work of Restoring Hope Parkinson’s Therapy.
A Powerful Afternoon of Purpose
With Scott and Christian as our emcees, guests were treated to an afternoon filled with heartfelt stories, musical performances, and informative insights. A special thank you to Glynn, Ron, and Lynn for clearly sharing important facts to help deepen everyone’s understanding of Parkinson’s Disease.
The most moving moments came from members who have completed our SPEAK OUT!® Therapy Program, developed by Parkinson Voice Project. Reflecting on the difference therapy has made in their journey with Parkinson’s, RHPT patients Kevin, Ken, Michael, Lloyd and Arthur highlighted how speech therapy has helped them regain clarity, confidence, and a true sense of connection.
We were also honoured by the presence of Mayor Rosanna Natoli, who expressed her support and pride in RHPT’s work on the Sunshine Coast. And to top it off, the Choir of Sound INTENT, led by Paula, gave a joyous performance featuring Waltzing Matilda and A Tribute to a Boy from Oz, showcasing the power of music and voice.
A Fundraising Triumph
Thanks to the generosity of The Barn on Flaxton for donating all the coffee and cake to each guest and to the enthusiasm of those who participated in our raffles, auctions—we raised over $10,000! This remarkable total ensures that we can continue offering our weekly speech therapy groups free of charge to those living with Parkinson’s.
A special shout-out goes to Chaffey, who led a thrilling live auction that had the room buzzing with excitement, and to Jane, Alison, and all of our volunteers and partners—including the Blackall Range Lions Club—for their tireless support.
The Benevolent Bears Break Records!
The Fundraising Celebration also saw the close of the Benevolent Bear auctions.
This year marked the sixth edition of the Benevolent Bear Collection, with talented bear artist Lorraine Dippelsmann generously donating four of her bespoke handcrafted bears in support of Restoring Hope Parkinson’s Therapy. Each one found a special home through both online and live auctions.
- 🐻 Archibald: Sold online for $450
- 🐻 Elizabeth: Set a new record with a winning online bid of $800
- 🐻 Gizmo: Broke the record again with a live auction bid of $940
- 🐻 Esther: Close behind, selling for $750
Together, these beautiful bears raised an outstanding $2,940, contributing significantly to our overall fundraising success.
Thank You
To everyone who donated, attended, volunteered, spoke, sang, or simply cheered us on—thank you. Your support helps people with Parkinson’s not just speak, but truly be heard.