Remember Reggie from Big Brother?
She’s the wonderful women who won Big Brother (and Australia’s heart) back in 2003.
These days, Reggie is a single mum to Mia, 6, and Lucas, 4.
Sadly, Reggie is also legally blind and lives on a disability pension and she’s struggling to raise funds to support her son Lucas, who suffers from cystic fibrosis.
People with cystic fibrosis develop excessively thick and sticky mucus within the lungs, airways and the digestive system — and those with the incurable condition must undergo constant medical treatments and physiotherapy from birth, according to Cystic Fibrosis Australia.
But there’s one thing that could help Lucas – and that’s a speciality vest that would help him breathe.
The vest, which must be used two to four times a day, reportedly assists in moving mucas from the lungs to larger airways so that it can be coughed up.
The vest costs around $10,000, and that’s money Reggie doesn’t have.
As Mamamia reported earlier this year, Reggie’s Big Brother prize money ran out some time ago, having been spent on medical bills, two divorces, unemployment and an entertainment conman who said he could get her a TV career.
“I’m so sick of people who don’t know me thinking I’m rich and irresponsible with money,” she told Woman’s Day in June
“I live from fortnight to fortnight. There isn’t any money left over for holidays or taking the kids somewhere special,” she said.
One of Reggie’s friends recently started a Go Fund Me page, asking people to donate money for Lucas’ vest. The page for Lucas’ vest has raised just over $7000 so far and has been shared over 300 times, but has yet to reach its $10,000 target.
As Chrissie Swan said in a Facebook post last week:
“If Reggie made you smile all those years ago on BB why not throw a few dollars her way so she can buy a special vest for her beautiful son who is ill with cystic fibrosis.”
You can support the campaign to buy Lucas a vest, here.
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Top Comments
Why has nobody mentioned that this woman is also legally blind?
I get that there are plenty of people out there working hard to support their children with a disability. They are all amazing.
But how hard do you think it would be to get a job when you are legally blind? And do not have the ability to drive a car?
And to those who have said "why doesn't her ex just pay?" Are you kidding me?? If anyone has the recipe for getting money out of a reluctant-to-pay ex then let us all know! And just to say they "should" pay is naive bullshit.
This lady is just doing what she can to help her terminally ill child. What the hell's wrong with that?
Thank you kaot for everything you have said. You have hit the bail on the head
Why doesn't she join a support group, and ask for help from her friends and family? Like the many, many, many single mums I know that have special needs kids. One of my best friends has a 10 year with CF, she works fulltime, and spends weekends fundraising to support herself, her son with CF and her 2 other children. She is a single mum because her husband passed away. How are they not worthy of public attention and help? I'm kinda sick of these "one minute wonders" even thinking they had any fame to cash in on in the first place. How much of her prize money did she put away for a rainy day or donate to others in need? I would guess not a bloody lot!
Amanda you obviously don't know her true story. If you care to read what Chrissie swan said. She isn't asking for anything. Her friend happened to start the fundraiser for her. Yes there are others that are doing it tough and she isn't anymore worthy. Why don't you start a go fund me fundraiser for YOUR best friend like hers did. For gods sake leave her alone