About

Helping Hands

The Silver Lining Trust is a group of Franklin people who want to help those struggling in times of adversity. They are ( left to right) Karl Deadman, Megan Van Lieshout, Mark Graham, Kath McNamara, Johnny Aarts, Donna Miller, Richard Graham and Jo Plummer .

A group of Franklin people who know first hand the effects of depression, cancer and suicide have come together to help others facing adversity and in need of some time out.

The Franklin Silver Lining Trust hopes to provide time out and getaways to local people who are going through difficult times, whether it be themselves or their family.

"It's not just for the sufferer. It's set up more for the caregivers and family members of the person, because it's so often them who need the break," says founder Megan Van Lieshout.

Megan recognised a need for the trust in the community through treating people at her Pukekohe spa, Pure Indulgence.

Many clients were facing adversity in their lives, whether it be experiencing still births, looking after autistic children, or caring for spouses with cancer.
Megan would try to help where she could by giving free treatments, and says clients always told her how important that time out was.

She got together with friend Jo Plummer to create the trust, and together they found seven other trustees, each with their own reason for coming on board.

Jo is passionate about caring for pregnant women and owns Birthwise, a business through which she provides mums with antenatal classes and postnatal support.
Young mum Sonja Yeager has a heart child and has battled postnatal depression, and understands the importance of having a break.

Johnny Aarts' brother took his life in 2006 after suffering depression, so Johnny's motivation was to help other families who are going through the same thing, or ideally prevent it from happening.

Karl Deadman also came on board after his friend committed suicide last year, and as a local businessman he also wanted to give something back to the community. Kath McNamara and Donna Miller know first hand how important it is for families of those suffering an illness to get some time out. Both women's husbands have brain tumours.

Megan's cousin Richard Graham came on board to give something back to the community, and her brother Mark Graham sees how adversity can affect people through Graham's Funeral Services.

The locals are all keen to join a trust that directly benefits the community, especially as they know the benefit of having a break.

"I know and understand the importance of having time away from these demands, and how tiring living day by day and hour by hour can be," says Donna.

"The value or the benefit to the individuals, you can't understand it."

Through fundraising, the trust hopes to provide six special breaks a month, whether it be a fishing trip or a weekend away.