Children impacted by fire and burns are never far from the thoughts of Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) firefighters, who’ve been raising funds to help young burns victims for 40 years.

Now the community can also lend a hand - by donating their drink container refunds through Return and Earn to the firefighter’s new fundraising appeal for the burns unit at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead.

Funds from the “Cans for Courage” Return and Earn campaign will go to life-saving care, specialised equipment and support programs for burns unit patients.

FRNSW firefighter Kyle Mathiesen said the close ties with The Children’s Hospital at Westmead’s burns unit began four decades ago, when firefighters first started donating a small portion of their pay each fortnight.

“Firefighters are often the first on the scene and see what these kids are going through when they are injured,” Kyle said.

“That is where this started. A couple of fireys wanted to help the kids they had seen injured.

“On the day we do everything we can to make a horrible event better but a couple of fireys 40 years ago started thinking about what they could do to help even more.”

Between payroll donations from over 3,000 firefighters and fundraising events such as Beat the Burn and City to Surf, FRNSW firefighters last year raised over half a million dollars for the burns unit.

The Firefighters for the Burns Unit have pledged to raise $5 million over the next 10 years for the Sydney Children’s Hospital Foundation.

The connection between firefighters and the Burns Unit is so strong, the hospital unit is officially classed as Fire and Rescue NSW 002 Station. Firefighters regularly visit the unit, bringing colouring books and spending time with the patients.

Kyle said firefighters taking part in fundraising events take inspiration from the impact their efforts make to young burns unit patients.

“About 1,000 children a year suffer burns and severe injuries and 200 of them will need a long-term stay and a lifetime of functional and cosmetic surgeries. The work they do at The Burns Unit really is an incredible thing,” he said

“Before we do events like a 22-kilometre run or bike ride we gather around and have a briefing that includes the story of one the kids in hospital and what they are going through. 

“When you think you are doing it tough on a run, you think about the little kid we learnt about that morning, nothing hurts anymore.”

Payroll giving is now adding up to $200,000 a year.

The addition of fundraising with Return and Earn means the community can now easily get involved by simply returning eligible containers and donating the refunds to Cans for Courage.

“Everyone in NSW who wants to be a part of this fundraising for the kids can now help through our Cans for Courage Return and Earn campaign,” said Kyle.

“All the little things add up, from 10c a can here and there, to firefighters donating $1 a fortnight back in 1986 from their pay. It changes lives.”

• To donate search for Cans for Courage in the charity section of the Return and Earn app. 
• Find your local station to arrange direct donations of eligible Return and Earn containers to Cans for Courage.