SUPPORT: Yuleba's Matthew Russell is recovering from horrific burns.
SUPPORT: Yuleba's Matthew Russell is recovering from horrific burns. Contributed

Fundraiser for burns victim reaches $10K mark

THE GoFundMe campaign launched to assist the family of Matthew Russell while he recovers from horrific burns has raised $10,000 in less than a fortnight.

The money just keeps rolling in to assist the one-year-old and his parents Cindy and Russell, who are in Brisbane now after the incident on July 29.

GoFundMe organiser and family friend Tammy Benecke said people from across the Maranoa, including complete strangers, had donated amounts that were hard to believe.

"I expected we would raise money, but I really didn't expect it to be so quickly or to be anywhere near the $15,000 (goal set in the campaign),” she said.

"I was going to keep it running for a long time because Cindy and Tim would be travelling.

"But it was just absolutely fantastic at how quick it went.”

Ms Benecke said people donated up to $1000 to go towards not only general expenses, but to also pay for an air-conditioning unit to be installed to keep Matthew's room at a constant temperature when he returns, among other things.

As of Thursday, the campaign has raised almost $10,015.

"We've had one $1000 donation - the next one was a $530 donation,” she said.

"A lot of people from Reedy Creek Camp have donated so much and the crew from Pony Plains have also been generous.”

The Russell family were fully reunited last week after month being separated, with brothers Jack and Thomas heading down to Brisbane to visit their brother.

While Matthew has a long way to go with his recovery, Ms Benecke said the family had been buoyed by the support back home.

"Cindy and Tim are just overwhelmed - (they're) so thankful and they've said without the money being raised and Apex and myself helping, they wouldn't have been able to pay bills and get things done for Matthew,” she said.

"They still have so much hard work to go, but the first two weeks were the hardest and he was so touch and go.”

To donate to the campaign, go to gofundme.com/2kks245w.


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