Farmers in the Bega Valley have raised more than $80,000 dollars to help a young family travel to the UK to access medical treatment for their one-year-old son.
Hugo D'Arcy was born with Severe Combined Immunodeficiency Disorder (SCID), a rare life-threatening genetic condition.
His mother, Nicki-Lea D'Arcy, said this makes him very vulnerable to infections.
"It means that he was born with no immune system," she said.
At the age of 10 weeks, Hugo received chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant donated by his three-year-old brother Ned, which proved unsuccessful.
An online fundraiser has so far raised $38,875 and local farmers have raised more than twice that amount by donating cattle.
"It is absolutely amazing," Ms D'Arcy said.
The D'Arcy family are now planning to travel to the UK so Hugo can undergo a thymus transplant.
"For us, the biggest risk is getting over there," Ms D'Arcy said.
"Because we have to go on a commercial plane with lots of people and after being in isolation for 12 months — that's very scary."
"So, this is looking at keeping us safe on the flights to the UK and then accommodation when we're over there as well, because we'll be over there for a few months."
The past 12 months have been very stressful for the family-of-five, as they have juggled strict isolation, life on the dairy farm and homeschooling with extensive travel for medical appointments.
"It has been hard because it's meant that my other two kids are out of school in isolation as well — so they're not getting any socialisation," Ms D'Arcy said.
"Lucky we live on a farm with plenty of room for them to run around."
Farmers set up Donate a Cow fundraiser
Bega Valley dairy farmer Debbie Platts created the "Donate a Cow for Hugo" campaign.
"They needed some help, and everyone has got something in the back paddock they can sacrifice," she said.
Farmers in the region have rallied to help the local family, donating more than 50 cows.
Hugo's mum was at the saleyard and overwhelmed by the support from the community.
"I'm going to tear up talking about it," Ms D'Arcy said.
"It's very overwhelming and we're so appreciative — it's absolutely blown us away."
Barney 'sold' for good cause
"Barney" the Texas Longhorn, which sold for $5,100, fetched the highest price at the Bega store cattle sale.
Dairy farmer Ancret Shipton said Barney was bred as a family pet by her late husband Michael.
"Barney's been hanging out in the paddock and been a bit of a nuisance, but we all love him," she said.
In a surprise twist, Ms Shipton, who offered Barney at the sale, was also the top bidder at $5,100.
"He's coming home; we couldn't let him go," she said.
"I was just going to donate some money and I thought, 'Well, we'll donate Barney and buy him back and generate a bit of interest for the sale."
Ms Shipton said supporting Hugo's cause was a way to give back to others, after the sudden cancer diagnosis and death of her husband in 2020.
"I've received a lot of help in the last two years and even before that, from a lot of good people in the community," she said.
Hugo's mother certainly appreciates the support.
"We are so grateful to live in the Bega Valley; we've been blown away by the support," Ms D'Arcy said.
