George Storie, aged three, has been diagnosed with a rare genetic disease, Leukodystrophy, a progressive terminal brain disease characterized by a gradual physical deterioration and loss of function.

There is no cure for this disease and the community wanted to give George and his family every opportunity possible to deal with challenges ahead.

So the good people of Yetman, Inverell, Moree, Goondiwindi and Warialda gathered and held a boat race in the river.

They staged a Calcutta, a balloon raffle and an auction; they had platinum sponsors who each donated $1000 and gold sponsors who donated $500 each.

At the end of the day the committee determined that $24,000 would go to the Hear & Say Centre in Brisbane, a service George is using that relies heavily on private funding.

The remainder of funds raised will create the “George Storie Fund” to assist with the financial costs of Georges’ care and at a later stage will be passed onto the Leukodystrophy Support Group.