Sometimes, the strongest foundations aren’t just the ones forged in concrete and steel, but in the connections that grow along the way. For FDC, celebrating 35 years is about more than the buildings we’ve delivered, but in the authentic relationships that have created change in ways we never could have imagined. One such story is that of Molly Croft, her family and a connection with Ronald McDonald House that has rippled outward and made a real-world positive impact.

A home away from home

When Molly was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, an aggressive form of bone cancer, at just 12 years old, her family was suddenly faced with the unknown. Treatment meant leaving their home in Dubbo and relocating to Sydney. “We thought we’d have to sell our house and all move down,” Molly remembers. “Then a nurse asked Dad if he’d been to Ronald McDonald House. We didn’t even know what it was. She said it was super close to the hospital and that they’d have a bed for us, and they did. That became our home.”

Molly spent 292 nights at Ronald McDonald House during her initial treatment, and with relapses and infections over the years, she’s stayed for more than 500 nights in total.

That “home away from home” was one FDC knew well. In 2017, they completed the construction of the new Ronald McDonald House Westmead, a 60-room purpose-built facility to keep families close during the hardest times. Since then, FDC has continued its support through ongoing refurbishments, upgrades, fundraisers, and volunteering.

For Molly and her family, the building wasn’t just bricks and mortar, it was a sanctuary. And for FDC, seeing how the space supported families like the Crofts, sparked the beginning of a much deeper relationship.

Through those difficult times, Molly held onto her mantra: look for a rainbow in every day. “Osteosarcoma is such a hard cancer to be around, with not many positives,” she says. “But I always believed that if you can find even one rainbow in your day, there’s still hope.”

A rainbow in every day

It was during this period that Molly met GIANTS netballer Amy Parmenter, who would go on to become a close friend and collaborator. “I was always the happy-go-lucky sporty kid. When Amy was doing an appearance at Westmead, I was the one who wanted to meet her. I don’t think I said anything at that first meeting, I just looked up at her, starstruck, but she stuck around. She gave my mum her phone number and became a constant, visiting me most weeks.”

As a platinum sponsor of the GIANTS, FDC already knew Amy well, proudly supporting the team and its players on and off the court. That partnership would also prove pivotal, as Molly and Amy’s burgeoning friendship resulted in a powerful new initiative.

One day, as Molly was recovering from an infection, Amy suggested they do something together to bring something positive to a difficult situation. It was the beginning of The Tie Dye Project. “We combined my saying during treatment to ‘look for a rainbow in every day’ with Amy’s memories of tie-dyeing with her mum, who she lost to cancer as a teenager. We wanted to bring colour and hope into a space where there wasn’t much. That’s how it started, literally at a hospital bedside,” says Molly.

The Tie Dye Project has since raised more than $1.4 million for sarcoma research. “None of that would have been possible without FDC,” Molly says. “They’ve supported us from the beginning, covering costs so that every cent raised goes directly into research. They’re just the most beautiful people, and we’re so grateful.”

Ripples of Change

While Molly’s journey shaped The Tie Dye Project, it also quietly changed the course of her sister Maddi Croft’s life.

“When Molly got sick, I was in Year 10,” Maddi says. “I was adamant I was going to join the police force. But when our family moved to Sydney, I went to the hospital school at Westmead. I’d never really loved school, but those teachers wrapped me up in so much love. It was the place I could be myself and get away from all the medical things happening with Mol. That’s when I realised teachers can make such a difference, and started thinking maybe this is something I want to do.”

That moment set Maddi on the path to teaching. “I’m honestly so proud of her,” says Molly. “As her little sister, I am so grateful that she’s found something that she’s so amazing at and I know that she makes such a difference.”

Fast forward to today, and Maddi is a special education teacher at Yawarra Community School in Dubbo. “I have a small class and assistance from the school’s learning support staff.” Our kids have a lot of challenges, but they’re amazing. Every day is different, and that’s what makes it special.”

Yawarra opened in 2019 as a school for specific purposes, catering for students with moderate to severe intellectual disabilities or autism, from Kindergarten to Year 12.

“About 53% of our students are Indigenous, and a high number are in out-of-home care,” explains Yarrawa Principal, Tammy Batho. “It’s a small but complex setting. Our students and their families face a lot of challenges including accessing available medical care and allied health support, and distance is also a challenge. Some of our students travel over an hour just to come to school from outlying communities.”

Teaching With Heart

Earlier this year, Maddi found a way to bring a little bit of extra joy to the kids at the Yarrawa school. “We had our Easter day coming up, and we had no donations. A lot of our kids are from very low socio-economic families or in out-of-home care, so things like Easter eggs just don’t happen for them. Often it ends up being the teachers funding things like that.”

Through Molly’s connection, Maddi reached out to FDC, who happened to be in Dubbo for Ride to Give. The annual bike ride sees FDC employees, clients and partners cycle hundreds of kilometres to raise funds for charities close to the company’s heart. To date, the ride has raised millions of dollars for important causes. “FDC was so generous and donated way more eggs than we ever imagined,” says Maddi. “Our kids were absolutely stoked.”

On the opening night of the ride, Maddi shared some of the stories of her students. Her words struck a chord, and FDC pledged an additional $10,000 to fund new inclusive play equipment at Yawarra. “It’ll go towards equipment all our students can use, including those in wheelchairs. Inclusive play equipment is so expensive, but it will be incredible for our kids. FDC are not even from Dubbo, and they’ve made such an impact on these beautiful kids,” says Maddi.

For principal Tammy, the support has been transformative. “There are always extra things we want to provide for the school, and it’s not always easy within a budget. The Easter eggs brought joy, and the funds for play equipment will have long-term benefits,” she says. Our kids need to be spinning, swinging, sliding; it helps regulate their little bodies and builds social skills and friendships. Donations go a long way in providing opportunities our students wouldn’t otherwise have, and we’re very grateful.”

For Molly, watching her family’s story ripple outward has been profound. “I’m so grateful to be able to use my voice and platform to make a difference. And to see FDC make a difference not only in sarcoma research but now at Yawarra is something really special I hold close to my heart. None of us can do what we do without an amazing army around us.”

Molly believes the secret is in being brave enough to share your story. “If you sit down with people and are willing to be vulnerable, most want to help. They might not do something as big as FDC, but everyone wants to help in their own way. That’s how change happens.”

Celebrating 35 Years + Counting