The second ‘Collab for a Cause’ event was a huge success and raised over $70,000!

‘Collab for a Cause’ is a night full of food and fundraising organised by Shannon and Nicole Fleming and the wonderful team at Lot 100 in the Adelaide Hills.

Collab for a Cause at Lot 100.

The Fleming family

Shannon is the Head Chef at Lot 100 and has lived experience at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital, spending nearly 100 days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) with his wife and twin girls Isla and Eloise. Heartbreakingly, Isla passed away at four weeks of age after heart surgery.

Shannon and Nicole say, “No one knows what NICU is until you need NICU. NICU makes families and without them, we wouldn’t have the family we have now.”

Some of the nursing staff who cared for Isla and Eloise attended the Collab for a Cause event, showing their support for Shannon, Nicole and families like theirs.

Nicole and Shannon Fleming sharing their hospital experience with the guests.

‘Collab for a Cause’ making a big impact

The funds raised have been used to purchase a micro-preemie simulation doll and two monitoring systems to be installed in the isolation rooms supporting NICU and the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU).

The mannequin will be a valuable asset to the delivery of nursery education and to developing staff confidence and skills in neonatal nursing.

The mannequin will be the same size and weight as a 25-week gestation infant and will greatly assist in developing clinical skills and confidence in nursing staff who are learning how to provide resuscitation to very sick, small and fragile infants in a safe learning environment.

The monitoring screens will enable staff to interact with the monitoring systems within those rooms, without needing to physically enter the patient’s room, eliminating the unnecessary risk of infection.

These wall-mounted monitors will display patient physiological data, giving the clinician full capability as if they were at the bedside without any risk to patient safety.

Some of the amazing chefs and staff who made the night possible.

Thank you

We would like to say a huge thank you to guest chefs, Will Doak from Lost Phoenix Farm, Emma Shearer from The Lost Loaf, Kane Pollard from Topiary, Darren Robertson from Three Blue Ducks and all of the amazing Lot 100 staff who volunteered their time to make this incredible event possible.

Michelle and Marty Roberts’ middle child, Sam, had just turned two when they were given the shattering news that their gorgeous, blonde-haired, little boy was terminally ill with a very rare neurological degenerative condition called Niemann-Pick Disease Type C.

After a courageous battle fought in the Women’s and Children’s Hospital (WCH), young Sam passed away in 2005 just before his fifth birthday.

Sam and his family spent many years in and out of the WCH, his siblings Lucy and Charlie (pictured above) growing up by his side in the Hospital environment.

“We are just one of hundreds of families who have experienced this situation though,” Marty said.

Sam Roberts in the WCH with siblings Lucy and Charlie.

Remembering Sam

“Sam was beautiful and the cutest little boy. We were so fortunate to have many happy and joyful memories when he was with us,” Michelle said.

“We’re deeply indebted to the care and love that he got from the Hospital,” Marty added.

The Roberts family have spent the past 15 years fundraising for the Women’s & Children’s Hospital Foundation (WCH Foundation) in his memory. They created the Sam Roberts Family Fund and through their Cycle 4 Sam fundraiser have contributed over $750,000 to various projects for the WCH Foundation and the WCH Paediatric Palliative Care Service.

They celebrated Sam’s 21st birthday on June 30, 2021.

“We always used to like to celebrate birthdays with him,” Michelle said.

“Even though, for me, he’s still forever a four-year-old, so it’s hard to imagine him 21.”

“We remember Sam as being a little boy who endured a huge amount in his short life,” Marty agreed, “So to honour him on his 21st birthday is really important.”

“It reminds us of not only the time that we had with him but also the years since and the joy we’ve had having Cycle 4 Sam in his memory.”

The pair said it is a joyous experience remembering Sam with their family and friends through their fundraising events.

“It’s a way that we can keep Sam part of our lives and our family,” Michelle said.

“He was very cute and cheeky, and he did love having people around him, so he’d probably be amazed with all the fuss being made about him.”

Charlie, Michelle, Marty and Lucy Roberts at a Cycle 4 Sam event.

Challenge 21

In honour of Sam’s 21st birthday, we are asked our community to challenge themselves to raise funds to support families like the Roberts who benefit from the WCH Foundation.

We launched the inaugural Challenge 21, so that anyone, anywhere, can take on any challenge they like to support sick kids.

It’s simple; choose and take on a challenge related to the number 21. You could run 21km’s, give something up for 21 days, or get creative and come up with your own challenge! Then, get your friends and family to sponsor you and raise funds for some of South Australia’s most vulnerable children and their families.

Gorgeous, fun, lovable little Sam.

Are you up for Challenge 21?

Registrations for Challenge 21 are now open. Sign up for free as an individual or a team and start raising funds in the lead up to our Challenge period.

“No matter what you do, you can all make a difference,” Michelle said.

“You can be as creative as you like, there are no limitations,” Marty added.

“Any challenge that someone does with the number 21 is going to benefit them physically, mentally or spiritually – they’re going to become better people as a result of setting a challenge in Sam’s memory. We’re really excited about it.”

For more information on Challenge 21 click here