A Doreen local has been honoured after an international manufacturing company chose to donate $3500 to Link Community and Transport, who helped care for the resident prior to her death.
The company Combe Asia-Pacific Pty Ltd, runs a yearly philanthropic giving program, and invites its staff to nominate a charity close to their hearts.
This year Alicia Demiri chose to nominate LINK in memory of her late mother Maria Dalyfor, who accessed the charity’s service for eight years.
“It’s local support networks and charities like LINK that often make the biggest difference and are of the biggest value to a person’s life when they are diagnosed with an illness”, Ms Demiri said.
“I am very grateful LINK were there to support mum and hope they are able to continue to reach more people just like her from this donation.
“I am thrilled that LINK was selected and that I was able to give LINK a cheque for [AUD $3500] to help more people in our local community”.
Ms Demiri said her mother was diagnosed with metastatic cancer eight years ago and since the diagnosis LINK “was a massive support”.
“When mum had her spinal surgery to remove cancer eight years ago, she was instantly unable to drive and lost all independence which was really tough as she was an independent woman,” she said.
“Without the lovely volunteers from LINK taking her to ongoing weekly medical appointments, and frequent grocery shopping outings, it would have been near impossible for her to get to all her treatments, and to stay positive.”
LINK’s customer relations and outings officer Naomi Darmanin said she has very fond memories of Maria.
“Maria loved chatting to our volunteers when they picked her up and dropped her to her medical appointments, hospital appointments and shopping at Woolworths,” she said.
“During the COVID-19 Lockdown I spoke to Maria on a weekly basis. It was a welfare call firstly to see how she was going and secondly if she needed any assistance with shopping.
“Maria told me on multiple occasions how the LINK community, our staff and volunteers were her lifesaver. Without us, she said, she wouldn’t have been able to go shopping or attend her medical and hospital appointments, or visit her family, who were her greatest joy.
“Maria was always grateful for everything we did… I miss her.”
A spokesperson from LINK said the generous donation will be used to increase the client amenities including, biscuits, tea/coffee and fruit, for the LINK transit lounge in Thomastown.
“The transit lounge sees dozens of clients come through on ClubLINK outings almost every day, as well as being a meeting and staging place for LINK’s volunteer community and staff,” the spokesperson said.
