Kuan was with us for only 18 years. Rhinos have been around for 40 million years. Please help us to ensure they are around FOREVER, by donating to this fundraiser for the Save The Rhino Foundation, in Kuan’s honour.

In memory of our beautiful son and brother Kuan, and to continue his legacy, we are committed to raising funds to stop the cruel and senseless poaching of rhinos in countries like South Africa, just like he was. Kuan passed away in August 2022, after a short and sudden illness - he was only 18. In his short time, he was passionate about trying to prevent the extinction of rhinos through the devasting impact of rhino poaching.

Kuan lived in South Africa for 18 months from the age of 8, where he was fortunate enough to see rhinos in their natural habitat. He was horrified to discover that they are illegally killed for their horns which some cultures believe to have magical healing powers, and that they could become extinct in the wild if the poaching continued at its current rate.

When Kuan returned to his home in Australia in 2014, he was determined to do everything he could to help stop rhino poaching. His mantra became, "the best place for the rhino’s horn is on its head”. In Year 5 at Bilgola Plateau Primary School, NSW, at the age of 10, Kuan started his fundraising efforts for the Save the Rhino Foundation (https://www.savetherhino.org). He organised a market stall at school on World Rhino Day, and sold beaded rhino keyrings - hand-made by two unemployed, homeless men in South Africa, Lee-Roy and Simba. He raised funds by raffling a hamper of South African snacks and a large rhino soft toy, and he donated all the proceeds from a garage sale he organised.

Kuan became even more determined and passionate in the following year, following the horrific story of a White Rhino named Hope. In 2015, Hope was found on a wildlife reserve in the Eastern Cape of South Africa with both her horns removed and a large section of her face savagely mutilated. Miraculously, she was still alive. She went on to have 6 major surgeries before finally passing away 2 years later. Kuan again organised a shipment of hand-made beaded rhino keyrings from Lee-Roy and Simba in South Africa, to sell to his school friends. He also raffled a large, beaded rhino to raise additional funds.

When Kuan moved on to high school, his sister, Kaira continued his fundraising efforts while she was in Grade 5 and Grade 6. Each year on World Rhino Day in September, she, too, would create awareness by doing presentations in assembly and raising money through the sale of the hand-made, beaded rhino keyrings.

In Kuan’s first year of high school in 2017 he participated in a project called ‘1000s stories… and counting’, aimed at “making a positive difference and shaping your community.” Kuan seized the opportunity to tell people about the plight of the rhinos in the world. He raised awareness with a visual presentation to the school community, and by doing a public speech. He was even featured in the local newspaper for his efforts for the Save The Rhino Foundation. Kuan’s sole aim was to inspire his friends, family and complete strangers to consider what they, too, could do to prevent rhinos from becoming extinct in the very near future.

The following year, 2018, Kaira went to extraordinary lengths to continue the work Kuan had started. Kaira, who had beautiful long strawberry blond hair, pledged to cut 55cm off her hair - 55cm being the same length as the critically endangered Black Rhino’s horn! She donated the sponsorship money she raised for doing this to the Save The Rhino Foundation and then also donated her hair to Variety Children’s Charity to be made into wigs for children who have lost their hair due to cancer or alopecia.

Together, Kuan and Kaira have been truly inspirational in their passion to help stop the senseless maiming and killing of rhino. They raised over $2,000 through their efforts.

In Kuan’s memory, we are committed to continue raising funds that will help save these magnificent creatures from possible extinction.

We are eternally grateful to those who have already made the following pledges to this fundraising campaign that we have set up in Kuan’s honour:-

• Bilgola Plateau Primary School, have undertaken to make the sale of the beaded rhino keyrings an annual fundraiser. All monies raised will be donated through this page in memory of Kuan. https://bilgolapla-p.schools.nsw.gov.au

• Avalon Primary School, under the guidance of a very special, passionate young girl, Marlie Bolton, raised funds by selling rhino key rings on World Rhino Day, last year and will do the same again this year. https://avalon-p.schools.nsw.gov.au

• Albion Park Pies and Cakes have generously pledged to donate the profits from every pie sold on the day that Kuan passed (23rd August) every year. https://www.facebook.com/apcakes.pies

• On 2nd September 2022 Kuan's teammates, friends and family attended a Celebration of his Life in Wollongong, NSW. All cans and bottles from the day were taken to the Earn and Return program, which pays 10c for each recyclable container. Kuan’s Gridiron Coach Wayne who works there, topped up the amount redeemed to $280 and donated it https://returnandearn.org.au

• Each year on Kuan’s birthday on 2nd January, we, as his family, will make a donation in lieu of a gift and will ask others to do the same.

• To commemorate Kuan’s 2nd year “Angelversary”, a team of 9 of Kuan’s family and friends will do a sponsored skydive in Wollongong on Sunday 25th August 2024. https://www.skydive.com.au

• We would like to thank all the individuals and families who have already kindly supported us.