NT Fire and Rescue team raising funds for Tallulah Moon Whitrod, battling SPG56

A small team of recruit firefighters are using their spare time to raise funds for a five-year-old Darwin girl who has been bravely battling a rare degenerative disease.

Members of Recruit Squad 50 have committed to raising funds for the Whitrod family. Picture: Supplied.

Outside their intense training schedule, a small group of firefighter recruits are using their spare time to promote a noble cause, aiming to raise $10,000 for a young Darwin girl.

Just weeks into their basic firefighting training, Recruit Squad 50 were challenged by their instructors to channel their team spirit into supporting a community foundation.

For recruit Ryan Oakley, the story of five year-old Darwin girl, Tallulah Moon Whitrod, sprang to mind.

Members of Recruit Squad 50, including Issac Lake (left) and Ryan Oakley (right), will be using their spare time to raise funds for Our Moon’s Mission. Picture: Harry Brill.

For years, the Whitrod family have been raising funds to find a cure for SPG56 – a rare degenerative disease their baby girl was diagnosed with in 2020.

Mr Oakley, whose known the family for years, pitched the foundation to his peers.

“I was just thinking about their situation and the trials and tribulations that they’ve managed to push through,” he told this masthead.

“I thought it was a really good segue to what we do as well – pushing to help people and fighting to be better people ourselves.”

Tallulah’s battle captivated the squad, who told their instructors they would set out to raise $10,000 for the foundation, ‘Our Moon’s Mission’.

Golden, Tallulah, Finn and Chris Whitrod met with the recruits. Picture: Supplied.

Between the physically and mentally tough training schedule, the squad received additional motivation from the Whitrods, who met the recruits personally.

“It was pretty emotional to be honest,” recruit Issac Lake said.

“But also really motivating to see the effort they’ve put in and make us really want to get behind the cause.”

Now, when the squad are not on the tools training, they’re setting up Bunnings BBQs and fundraising stalls at the markets.

Having created a GoFundMe page, members of the team have also floated the idea of starting a car wash service and even creating firefighter calendar to get the cash pumping.

“We just want to do what we can to put the word out there, see if there are any businesses that would like to sponsor.”

Golden Whitrod said she was grateful for Recruit Squad 50’s support. Picture: Harry Brill.

The mother of Tallulah, Golden Whitrod, said she was moved by the support.

“It was like feeling this big, warm hug for me and my children,” she told this masthead.

“It’s not everyday you get to meet a big group of people who turn around say ‘we’re rallying for you’ and ‘we want to do this for you’.”

With a view to recruit the world’s best scientists to combat the disease, Ms Whitrod said the funds could make a significant contribution.

“The funds will go towards making the very medicine that would cure our daughter and give her the life she deserves.

To donate, visit gofundme.com/f/help-find-a-cure-for-spg56

Originally published as NT Fire and Rescue team raising funds for Tallulah Moon Whitrod, battling SPG56