Birthday: A gala dinner bash has been organised to celebrate Lifestart Nepean's 10th anniversary. Proceeds help g families such as Amanda and Daniel Galea. Picture: Michael Szabath
DESPITE intellectual delays and a hearing impairment, Oakhurst youngster Daniel Galea, 4, can speak three-word sentences, count to 10 and interact with other children.
Mum Amanda doesn't know how she would cope if the St Marys-based charity Nepean Lifestart didn't exist.
She is helping organise a gala dinner fund-raiser to celebrate a decade of Lifestart supporting children with disabilities and their families in the Nepean area.
Daniel and his mum attend Lifestart two days a week for playgroup and group therapy.
When Mrs Galea joined two-and-a-half years ago, Lifestart showed her how to communicate with her son using hand signs and visual cards.
"Now Daniel is talking which is a huge achievement," Mrs Galea said
"It was all new to me back then. I hadn't been around with special needs children until Daniel came along. I didn't know what to do."
Proceeds from the night will go back to Lifestart to help children with disabilities and delays.
"Funding for music therapy has just ended so it would be great it we could run it for another term," Mrs Galea said
The gala dinner is on October 6 at Marys Band Club, from 6.30pm.
There will entertainment, dancing, live and silent auctions.
Cost is $50, which includes a three-course meal.
Tickets: 9623 2100, www.trybooking.com/BSYQ
Donations: everydayhero.com.au/lifestartnepeancharitygaladinner.