Garbi’s Story

Rare Voices Australia (RVA) Partner, Aussie White Lion Foundation, was born out of my wife’s and my personal experience as parents of children living with sickle cell disease.

When our child experiences a sickle cell crisis, watching him suffer in pain while feeling unable to take that pain away is one of the hardest experiences a parent can face. At times, I have felt helpless, emotionally overwhelmed, and even worthless because I could not do more to ease his suffering.

During these crises, our family’s life changes. It becomes difficult to concentrate on work, maintain our daily routines, and manage our responsibilities. The experience affects us mentally, emotionally, and physically.

Through this journey, we began to understand the challenges faced by families living with sickle cell disease, especially those who cannot afford essential medications, hospital bills, blood transfusions, and other basic medical needs.

We realised that many parents are going through the same pain, fear, and helplessness, often without the financial resources or support they desperately need.

This is why we established Aussie White Lion Foundation.

Our mission is to support people living with sickle cell disease who cannot afford essential medical care. We want to give hope to families, raise awareness, fight discrimination, and help ensure that no one is denied necessary medical treatment simply because they cannot afford it.

Our journey as parents has taught us that behind every person living with sickle cell disease is a family fighting battles that the world may never see.

We may not be able to take away every patient’s pain, but together, we can make their journey a little easier.

Aussie White Lion Foundation is more than a charity to us. It is our story, our purpose, and our commitment to turning our family’s challenges into hope for others.