Community Recognition Statement

As a parent, I can only imagine the devastating pain of losing a child.

Jayawant and Vaishali Gaikwad know that pain keenly after losing their son Karan five years ago to leukaemia. He was only 15.

I am in awe of how the Gaikwad family, including Karan's older brother Shree, have turned their pain into hope by hosting the Karan Gaikwad Inaugural Fundraising Dinner.

About 250 people packed into the Greg Percival Community Centre to raise much-needed funds for Campbelltown Pediatric Ambulatory Care, the Macarthur Cancer Therapy Centre and Westmead Children's Hospital.

I was moved by the unqualified love for Karan who was remembered as a happy young man with a bright future.

Every aspect of Karan's life was represented at the fund-raiser: his loving family, school friends and the community who supported Karan and his family during his illness.

 Despite the loss of Karan, his family showed incredible strength and generosity to raise money for other children fighting cancer.

I commend the Gaikwad family and everyone who supported the inaugural fund-raiser. May Karan's memory live strong in all who love him.