MDA israel

It was a fantastic annual campaign launch on the evening of Thursday June 13th in Melbourne as members of the community gathered to hear about Magen David Adom's Wish Ambulance from MDA guests Yonat Daskal-Dagan, Paramedic manager of the project, Itai Orion, Paramedic volunteer, and Ravit & Elisheva Cohen, mother and sister of Yotam (today aged 5.5) who shared their personal family story about Yotam who was diagnosed with Leukemia at age 2 and whose wish to fly in a helicopter was granted by the Wish Ambulance ultimately paving the way to his road to recovery.

The emotional evening featured the BEYOND A WISH campaign film that showed the activity of the Wish Ambulance which strengthens to those battling difficult illnesses. But the ultimate goal was to raise enough funds to purchase a brand new, better equipped and state of the art Wish Ambulance to be able to grant more wishes across Israel. 

Speeches were heard from MDA Australia (VIC) Chair Glynis Lipson and the guests from Israel as well as an intimate discussion panel MC'ed by Rabbi James Kennard. 

The wonderful evening opened the week for further communal activities culminating in the successful phone and online campaign raising $360,572 for the new ambulance from the very supportive Melbourne community!

"It was such a thrilling experience to feel such love and support for the project from the Melbourne community" said Yonat Daskal-Dagan.

"I feel we now have a very large new family from Australia, thank you MDA!" summed up Ravit Cohen, Yotam's mother.