By Brendan Rees
After suffering a spinal injury in a 2014 accident, Joel Sardi was left a quadriplegic.
The 28-year-old’s life changed forever. He was a promising footballer, had served with the Australian Army, and loved to run, swim, ride, and go to the gym.
Today he has a new lease on life with the help of an assistance dog named Quartz – thanks to the Casey community.
Hundreds turned out for the annual ‘Walk to remember’ at the Cranbourne Royal Botanic Gardens in February where $35,000 was raised through the Jared Dunscombe Fund in order for Righteous Pups Australia to train Quartz.
A graduation ceremony was held on July 14 after Quartz, Joel and his wife Elisa completed an intensive two week training course.
Quartz has been specifically trained to assist Joel with dressing, fetching a blanket, emergency alert bark, retrieve his mobile phone and more.
The impact Quartz has had on Joel’s day-to-day life has been immediate.
“I am forever grateful for what the Jared Dunscombe Fund has done for myself and Elisa” Joel said.
Having Quartz “is something beyond my wildest dreams, he said.
“It has changed our lives immensely already and will continue to do so forever.”
The annual walk is held in memory of Jared Dunscombe, a Cranbourne Rotary Club member whose life was tragically cut short at the age of 31 in 2013.
