WESTERN Australia’s largest vehicle dealer, Automotive Holdings Group (AHG), is hoping to raise more than $100,000 for children and young adults with disabilities as part of the Rocky Bay corporate golf day event at the Joondalup Country Club, to be held on March 3. AHG marketing manager Michelle Peters said helping Rocky Bay was part of the company’s larger corporate philosophy to put back into the community. “We support over 100 charities, but have sponsored the golf day for the last three years. We love going along for the day and helping out with the charity auction in the evening,” she said. Founded in 1938, Rocky Bay provides care and support for people with disabilities, particularly those with neuromuscular and other neurological disorders. The organisation currently supports more than 700 children and young adults with a range of disabilities including spina bifida, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, muscular atrophy, and those with acquired brain injuries. Six-year-old, Tom Heuvink of Oakford is just one of many children who are provided with ongoing physiotherapy by Rocky Bay. Tom suffers from a rare neuromuscular degenerative condition known as central core myopathy, which is greatly relieved with treatments aimed at increasing his muscle strength, improving and maintaining his range of movement and achieving appropriate developmental milestones. Other services provided to clients by Rocky Bay include in-home respite, residential nursing homes, a southern respite service with two purpose-built homes, a children’s holiday program, a large employment service providing alternatives to disabled persons who can not work full-time, job search assistance and career guidance. Proceeds of this year’s AHG Golf Day will go towards a purpose-built ‘motor-sensory room’ in Rockingham where children and young adults can experience a heightened sensory experience from special installations such as lighting, music and scent, which may help to optimise their quality of life. Rocky Bay fundraising and public relations manager Betty Cottrell said more than $100,000 was raised from the golf day last year with proceeds going towards the purchase of electric beds and communication devices, including hyper-sensitive keyboards for non-verbal clients who would use them to respond to questions. “Each bed cost $5,000 and the sensory devices between $10,000 and $15,000, so the more money that can be raised, the more Rocky Bay can purchase for children and young adults in need,” she said. The AHG Golf Day tees off at 1pm with registration and refreshments at midday followed by a dinner and charity auction from 7pm after the day’s play.