Birthday boy’s best gift

Milan, who will soon turn nine years old, will share his birthday CELEBRATIONS with children at the Royal Children's Hospital. Picture: JOE mASTROIANNI

Tarneit youngster Milan loves sharing the joy of his birthday with children staying in the Royal Children’s Hospital’s oncology ward.

Milan, who is set to celebrate his ninth birthday on September 25, is a former patient of the ward, which is also known as the Kookaburra Ward.

When he was three, Milan was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. This November will mark two years since his last chemotherapy treatment.

Milan’s mother, Jemima Greig, said that while her son was a patient at RCH he decided he wanted to do something to cheer up children in his ward.

“In 2015, when Milan was still having chemotherapy himself, we asked what he wanted for his birthday and he said he would like to share his birthday with the other kids in the Kookaburra Ward,” Ms Greig said.

Milan’s family, including his three siblings, teamed up with the Koala Kids Foundation to collect donations of presents for children staying at the hospital.

Tarneit P-9 College, where Milan and his older brother, Eli, are students, held a superheroes costume day to raise funds for the event.

And on his birthday, Milan and his family distributed the gifts to the Kookaburra Ward children.

Ms Greig said Milan had decided to repeat the charitable venture on his birthday this year.

The family has once again teamed up with the Koala Kids Foundation, this time to collect donations of Lego and Duplo for young patients and the likes of iTunes vouchers for teenage patients.

Tarneit P-9 College will hold another fundraising day to support Milan’s efforts, a casual dress day on September 15.

Parents from the Flames Basketball Club in Werribee, where Milan and Eli play, are also donating Lego.

Milan said he hoped Wyndham residents would contribute.

“Please can you make a donation, to make the day really special for the other kids,” he said.

Donations of new boxes of Lego and Duplo, or vouchers, should be sent to: Magic for Milan 2017, Koala Kids, 441 Auburn Road, Hawthorn 3122, by September 20.