The generosity of Australians from across the country has blown away the creator of a GoFundMe page for the victim of a horror Bali accident.
Geelong mum-of-two Rachel Berben launched the fundraiser for her best friend Peta Richards, who was involved in a scooter accident while on a family holiday in Bali.
Mrs Richards was reportedly knocked off her scooter by another rider while heading into town to pick up a birthday present for her young son.
As a result, the 36-year-old sustained critical head injuries, including bleeding on the brain and a fractured skull. The mum-of-two and Melbourne nurse now remains heavily sedated in an induced coma on a ventilator, and faces an “exceptionally long road to recovery”.
Ms Berben said her friend was an experienced motorbike rider with an international licence, however she was simply “in the wrong place at the wrong time” when the accident occurred.
“We know she got taken out by another person on a scooter,” Ms Berben told news.com.au.
“She was taken to a hospital in Bali with no injury on her body and only to her head. Within 24 hours, she was transferred to the International Hospital in Kuta for eight days then put on an evacuation flight back to Melbourne where she is now in ICU at the Alfred hospital.”
Ms Berben said the dream trip has now “flipped” her friend’s life upside down with possible lifelong injuries, but hopes the funds raised will provide some sort of relief for her husband Matt and their two young children, Sonny and Alfie.
Since launching the GoFundMe page, more than one thousand donations has lead to a total pool of $115,117 raised at time of writing for the Richards family.
“We don’t know what life looks like in the next six months or a year or even beyond that,” Ms Berben said.
“Over the coming days, weeks and months Matt will need to not only take care of Peta, attend hospital appointments, cater, and accommodate to any changing needs while also looking after his boys.”
Donations range from a few dollars into the thousands, with some forking out between $5,000 – $10,000 to support the young family.
Ms Berber posted to the fundraising page to thank each and every person who had provided support to the Richards.
“We wanted to thank you all so, so much for your incredible support for Peta, Matt, Sonny, Alfie and their family,” Ms Berber wrote.
“They are completely overwhelmed and appreciative of everyone’s supportive messages, outreach and donations! So thank you all so much!! This is such an incredible response.”
Read related topics:MelbournencG1vNJzZmivp6x7r7HWrGWcp51jrrZ706uYr52cZMGzrdWeo2atoJmutbHSaKCnm5mZsq%2FA0mieqJ6lo7GusYypmKCdXZu8s3nBmqOiZZOnrrS0jK%2BgnKyZonqxsdOaZKuhk52us7DSZqmem5Wew6a%2FjKyrmp%2BXmr%2BqusZmm6imkam2sLqOp5ywq12owbC%2B2Ghumppoa4ZxhJaabJ%2BcYZiCorKPcpmbnWluhHiBwnGbbA%3D%3D