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Meels on Wheels

Business Blueprint Ride 2026

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Reach Our Goal

Raised

$3,923

Our Goal

$13,000

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Small Hands, Big Hope: What Dean and Johanna Made Possible for Got, Gotji, and Boss

In April 2024, Dean and Johanna joined their first Hands ride, pedalling across Thailand alongside other riders who, like them, wanted to do more than just witness change, they wanted to be part of it.

At the start of that journey, each rider was handed a small card bearing the photo and story of a child they were riding for. Dean and Johanna received the faces of two children, Got and Gotji, whose stories soon became the guiding force behind every kilometre.

As Dean shared, “We kept our cards on us 24/7 to remind us that when things got tough, or we didn't want to carry on, or we'd lost sight of the objective of our ride, that there were kids who desperately needed our help. The kids we were riding for didn't have a choice.”

What began as a physical challenge turned into a personal awakening - a reminder that compassion can bridge any distance. Their family began to see giving not as a one-time act, but as a way of living, showing their children that comfort and opportunity are gifts to be shared, not simply enjoyed.

When they met Got and Gotji at Ban Tharn Namchai, it felt, as Dean described, “like being reunited with a long-lost family member.” There were tears, laughter, and water fights - a beautiful mess of joy and belonging. At that moment, they weren’t just sponsors.. they were family.

Gotji’s Steps Toward Tomorrow

At 14, Gotji has the heart of a dreamer and the discipline of someone who’s had to grow up too soon. After his parents separated, he moved in with his elderly grandfather. Money was scarce, and education was out of reach, until Hands stepped in. With support from the foundation and his sponsors, Gotji was able to attend school and begin building the life he once only hoped for.

“A sponsor means a great deal to me and is someone to whom I am deeply grateful. They are an important part of what has enabled me to have a safe place to live, enough food, and access to education.”

Through his words, you can feel the depth of his gratitude and the dignity that comes from having his chance at life restored. These opportunities have allowed him to not just attend school, but to thrive - dreaming of becoming a futsal player, helping with the mushroom project at the foundation, and learning to contribute to his community.

For Dean and Johanna, seeing Gotji’s progress is a powerful affirmation that small acts of compassion can create ripples of hope. For Gotji, that compassion is the steady ground beneath his growing dreams.
When Dean and Johanna recently learned that Got had been reunited with his family, it was received with deep joy - a reminder that every step forward, no matter how small it seems, carries hope.

Seeing the World with Boss’ Eyes

At just four years old, Boss has already experienced more changes than many do in a lifetime. After his parents separated, both sought work in different provinces, leaving Boss without stable care. For a time, his father would keep him in the cab of his truck while making deliveries across Thailand. It wasn’t a safe or sustainable way for a child to grow up.

Eventually, Boss came under the care of PAMA House, where he now attends pre-school, plays freely, and has the stability every child deserves.

When asked what his sponsor means to him, Boss said:

“A sponsor, to me, means a very kind person.”
In the end, what ties this story together isn’t just sponsorship - it’s a family in Australia who kept two small cards close to their hearts, and two young boys in Thailand who now know that their lives matter, their dreams are possible, and they are loved.

Hands Across the Water exists for moments like these, when hope becomes something you can hold onto.

We are raising money to support the children of Hands Across the Water because I believe that all children deserve to build a future full of possibili

Hands Across the Water [Hands] started as a charity in response to the Boxing Day Tsunami. Now we support 350+ children living in 7 homes and projects across Thailand. 

The kids who come to live in a Hands home are there because they have no choice. This is often the result of one of three heartbreaking situations:

  • They have no known family to care for them
  • They have a family member who is known to them, but is unable to care for them
  • They are living in an unsafe environment and have been placed in our care by the police or government

Hands not only provides the life-saving necessities for the kids in our homes, they also support many families in an outreach program to help keep kids out of our homes.

Just as important as filling their bellies with healthy food and providing a safe bed to sleep in, with the support of amazing donors like you, the vision of Hands is to help these kids see the opportunities that lie before them, to see a life of choice.

My hope is that you will make the choice to join me in this experience and help me reach my personal fundraising goal. Please make a donation today to support these children and provide them with a better future. 

Together we can truly make a difference - Donate now!

Thank you to our Sponsors

$1.75k

Nye 25 Fundraising Party

Great effort

$900

Ex Lbbh Staff

From the staff who never came to collect their tips.

$550

Aperol Promotion

Keep the great training up with Aperol Spritz!

$500

Wilson Mills Purtle Tozer

$88

Katy & Thomas Cheney

$54

Linda Gregor

Good luck! A great initiative!

$36

Anonymous

$23

Karen Wilson

Great job guys Kaz and Greg

$23

The Jessup Family

Just dined with you at LBB. Thank you for having us and cooking us a fabulous meal. All the best with this great ride! The Jessup family x

Our Team Members