Gifts for unsung heroes

Pictured above: Mike Arieni, father of Josh Arieni 

The “unpaid, unseen and unheard” work of carers is being recognised by a special program in the Moreton Bay region.

Brendale businessman Mike Arieni launched the Josh Arieni Legacy to “honour unpaid family and community carers by granting them a wish”. The unsung heroes’ program is named after Mike’s son – who was a carer for his grandmother, who had dementia, when he died in a car accident. Mike wanted to find the “right fit” to honour his Josh’s kindness and compassion and worked with The Carers Foundation to start the Josh Arieni Legacy.

This grants carers a wish - typically an experience of their choice to “rest, rejuvenate and feel genuinely appreciated for all they do”.

Carers are “superhuman” says Mike, “they have a big responsibility, 24/7, but most are unpaid, unseen and unheard.”

Mike helped care for his mother before and after work, but most of the day responsibility fell to son Josh, who was “loved by everyone”.

“I would try to get a day off to give Josh a break,” says Mike, who founded Solar Bollard Lighting in 2001, “but after three years I hit the wall.”

Image Gallery by Rhubarb Photography

The Josh Arieni Legacy is a “perfect fit for what wanted to achieve,” Mike, said. “There’s not enough kindness in world. We wanted legacy to be beacon of hope.

“To focus on giving these people an escape, time to take a breath, do something they had always wanted to, show they matter.”

Mike knows of a woman had been a carer for 42 years. Another has two boys with muscular dystrophy needing 24-hour care and just wanted to go to Sea World and swim with dolphins.

The Josh Arieni Legacy stepped in and paid for the trip. “She sent a picture (from Sea World) and she had the biggest smile,” Mike said.

Other fulfilled dreams include a camel trek in South Australia, going on a writing retreat, a getaway to Caloundra, and a pamper day while staying in Hastings St, Noosa.

John and Anna will receive their gift this year - a weekend away “to recharge and refocus”.

“As Anna is our full-time carer while I work full time in the week and then share the duties on weekends,” John said. “It is very easy to forget about yourselves.

“So, to be recognised for this and have a weekend away where we can just think of ourselves for two nights is something we are not used to but will be special in so many ways.

“Josh was a very inspiring young man. The fact he put his own life on hold to look after his grandmother is very selfless.

“The work Mike is doing with The Carers Foundation is so important, not just yearly awards but also advocating for carers and acknowledging carers need help as well, even if we don’t ask for it.”

For more on the Josh Arieni Legacy program visit www.thecarersfoundation.org/josh-arieni-legacy/