Thank you friends and supporters of Lifestart Foundation, The Annual Lifestart Foundation Dinner Dance and Charity Auction held in July was an enormous success! PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR LIFESTART'S LATEST NEWSLETTER! [View Full Entry]

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During the last year or so of the American War (as it is termed in Vietnam) Luong was a happy twelve-year old living with her family in a village thirty kilometres from Hoi An. Then one fateful day a bomb was dropped so close to her family home that it was instantly incinerated. Whilst the rest of her family scrambled out of the inferno relatively unscathed, Luong's lower body took part of the blast and she lost both legs. Though she had attended school until Year 3 and can thus read and write, this was the end of Luong's education as [View Full Entry]

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Almost without fail, the first arrival every morning at the Lifestart Foundation Workshop is Nghe. When asked why she generally rolls up to the workroom at least fifteen minutes before production starts - no matter what the weather - she answers simply: “I'm afraid of being late and missing out on some time with the group”. The benefits of the camaraderie Nghe and her group members have developed at least equal any financial rewards their efforts may produce. Born into a poor farming family, Nghe contracted polio at the age of five and from that age began walking with her [View Full Entry]

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You will remember Birdman (aka James Everson-Crane from the UK) who in support of Lifestart. flew across the Yarra River in Melbourne like a …well like a glorious, white, emu type bird! Well now the intrepid Birdman is planning to reach new heights. On August 30th 2008 he is planning an ascent of Mont Blanc which at 4810m is the highest mountain in the Alps and all of Western Europe. Once again James aims to raise sponsorship for Lifestart. He has totally funded his own trip so all money donated will go directly to help those in need. If you [View Full Entry]

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Just as I was finishing up after a long day, I was asked to visit a boy who was very sick. I was tired, but it was on my way home so I agreed. I am very glad I did! The sick boy lived close to my house in Hoi An. I went to visit him to see what the problem was and if I could help. I was taken to his house by a friend of a concerned neighbour and introduced to the boy I would soon know as Nguyen. That in itself was a bit strange, as it [View Full Entry]

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Dear Lifestart Supporters, Please mark your calendars for our very important and exciting Fundraisers! Details can be found in our latest newsletter: PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR LIFESTART'S MAY 2008 NEWSLETTER! [View Full Entry]

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Thanh and Ghi's first month. A thousand first experiences. We stopped counting after the first week. They have settled in remarkably well and are extremely happy. Ghi and Thanh had a week and a half to get their bearings before they commenced their training at Mariana Hardwicks. Their week is now quite full and includes English lessons two nights per week taught by Lifestart volunteer, ESL teacher Lee Dib. ( Thank you Miss Lee for helping!) It is winter in Melbourne so getting used to wearing layers of clothes, singlets, gloves and scarves is so very different to life in Vietnam. [View Full Entry]

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Hoa was three years old when she contracted Polio. Her parents took her to many doctors and hospitals, unfortunately no one was able to help. Polio left Hoa unable to walk, she cannot stand upright . Her body appears to crumple from the waist down so she moves around by placing her hands under her feet and slowly moves each foot. Getting from A to B is extremely slow and painful for her. Hoa's parents were very poor, they wanted her to attend school but unfortunately there was no one to carry her. A few family friends came to their house [View Full Entry]

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Thong ( pronounced "Tom" ) is another member of the Lifestart Foundation disabled group living with Polio. I call him a "can do " kind of man because there is not a whole lot that Thong won't have a go at. Thong walks on his hands, his legs simply do not work. So he puts his sandals on his hands, crosses his legs into lotus position and off he goes...........and by golly he's really fast! Thong contracted polio when he was one year old. He explained to me that Polio took his legs away. His family was very poor, they took [View Full Entry]

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A brief snapshot of Trang's story............Trang a vibrant 25 year old had been living in a small room with three elderly dementia patients for the past four years, she lay awake every night in fear. Trang has polio and it is very difficult for her to walk let alone climb stairs. Her accommodation was on the first floor of an old building. She had access to terrible bathroom facilities down a walk way some distance from her room. Trang had few possessions and what little she had could be put in a plastic bag. Despite this Trang has the sunniest smile [View Full Entry]

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