REVEALED: Mackay named state’s most generous town

A report compiling data from GoFundMe donations has revealed our local community are the biggest donors in the state, and second nationwide.

Ethan Hassett with assistant dog, Pip.

MACKAY has been named the most generous town in Queensland.

GoFundMe's annual Year in Giving report has revealed the sugar city is extra sweet when it comes to supporting its community.

A list of the organisation's Top Ten Most Generous Towns also ranked Mackay second most generous town in Australia behind Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, which took out top spot.

Sharon Hassett, who has called Mackay home for more than three decades, said the ranking came as no surprise to her.

In 2017, Sharon's son Ethan endured a traumatic neck and spinal cord injury, which changed his life forever. After the accident the then 17-year-old became a tetraplegic, paralysed in all four limbs and torso.

"When Ethan first came out of ICU and discovered he was paralysed his first goal was to get an assistant dog," Mrs Hassett said.

Ethan Hassett with assistant dog, Pip.

"He had run into someone while he was at hospital who had a guide dog and he saw how obedient and helpful they were - he just loved the idea.

"After some research we soon realised we did not qualify to receive a guide dog and we also discovered how expensive it would be to get one."

The mum of six said that's when they decided to create a GoFundMe page to see if they could raise the money.

And so it was decided. They set their target for $33,000, which would cover the cost of the dog, two years of training, vet visits, food, bedding, toys and travel for in-home training.

It didn't take long to meet their target and it was actually surpassed by more than $4000, taking the final amount raised to $37,059.

The dog has transformed the now 21-year-old's life.

"Ethan's dog, Pip, never leaves his side - she's his best friend," Mrs Hassett said.

"She helps him with day-to-day tasks but more importantly she gives him independence and confidence. Pip has vastly improved his quality of life."

Mrs Hassett said she was blown away by the community support her family received right from the start of Ethan's journey living as a tetraplegic.

Ethan Hassett with assistant dog, Pip.

"I was shocked with every donation we received, some donations were as small as $5, some were in the thousands and every little bit counted," she said.

"In Mackay everybody knows everybody and there's a real sense of community. People genuinely want to help each other."

GoFundMe regional manager Nicola Britton said the data was based on the number of individual donations made in each town.

"Mackay is one of four regional towns in Queensland to make it into our top ten, joined by Townsville, Cairns and Bundaberg," Ms Britton said.

"GoFundMe has seen a 35 per cent growth in pages defined as 'community' and I think that's a testament to the tight-knit community's in the state's regional centres."

For links to all of Mackay's GoFundMe pages visit: au.gofundme.com/search/au/mackay-qld-fundraising

 

MACKAY'S TOP EARNING GOFUNDME PAGES FOR 2019

1. Giving Back to Barry and Karon, 705 donations, $11,735 raised

2. Help Colin Deeley Beat Brain Cancer, 128 donations, $12,120 raised

3. Seizure dog for Gracie, 70 donations, $8300 raised