‘It’s their chance to shine.’ We hear from Bellarine Times photo-journalist Rebecca Adam who created The Happy Heart Project to give kids and teens with special needs the chance to shine. ‘As a photographer I have taken lots of photos of children and just felt that kids with special needs missed out a bit in this department so I created this project for them, so they could have the chance to be the centre of attention and shine.
So since March I’ve been busy capturing images of the superstars who will feature in a book titled “My Favourite Things”. They are kids and teens from the Bellarine, Geelong and Surf Coast, aged between six months and 19 years.
The Project will culminate with a book launch party, where the kids will be treated to a red carpet arrival and VIP treatment, their photos will be on display and of course the book will be on sale.
All proceeds from the books will go to The Treehouse Geelong, Every Little Bit Yelps and Geelong Cystic Fibrosis Support Group.
I’m a single mum of two beautiful kiddies and I wanted to do something really big and meaningful that would create some lasting memories for these other beautiful kids, and their families, while creating some awareness about what they are all going through. The whole experience so far has been very humbling and nothing short of amazing.
I have met so many families who are all fighting their own different battles, yet have thrown their support behind this Project because they are so excited to be a part of it and given the chance to share their beautiful children and their abilities with the community.
I have also received lots of hugs from my superstars along the way… it’s such a nice feeling knowing you are creating something special… it really is a project with heart. Like www.facebook.com/thehappyheartprojectgeelong/The Happy Heart Project book launch party will be held at the Shell Road Reserve Pavilion in Ocean Grove on Sunday December 4 between 1pm and 3pm. The kids with me in the pic are two of the superstars appearing in the book, Lucy of Ocean Grove, left, and Lily of Clifton Springs.’
HuG 