Adelaide not-for-profit foundation Living Without Limits (LWL) went all out last week in its efforts to raise funds for families of children affected by autism and cerebral palsy.

Established in 2012 by SA business identities Steve Maras, George Yatzis and current chairman Phillip de Pinto, the foundation’s fundraising dinner last Saturday put the final pieces of the jigsaw together that will realise a House of Respite based in Adelaide’s Victor Harbor.

Speaking to Neos Kosmos, Mr Maras is eager to set the wheels in motion. “We’ve found through our journey that what’s lacking here is a place where families of children afflicted by these conditions can go, because after all the monies that go to therapies and everything else, there’s no money left for people. They can never get away, or have a holiday like everyone else,” he said.

The facility will be managed by one of South Australia’s leading disability providers, while all costs will be accounted for, granting families the opportunity to get away at no personal cost.

Held at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre, the fundraising event saw 600 guests attend. A highlight of the night was a raffle for a brand new Toyota Yaris Ascent. In an unexpected act of generosity, the winner donated the vehicle back to the foundation to be re-auctioned, fetching another $15,000.

Over 100 items were auctioned along with a number of generous donations, raising close to $190,000, a figure Mr Maras said “exceeded all expectation before the night where the target was $150,000”.

A number of donors took the opportunity to pledge their assistance in establishing the facility by providing construction services with an estimated value of $100,000.

“This is going to be more about the families, the children and the siblings of the children, because what we found is the concentration is on the child that’s impaired and the children that are able-bodied are probably not given the concentration and the focus,” Mr Maras explained.

While the foundation is based in South Australia, this is an initiative the co-founder says other states could benefit from. “This is a generic thing that can be rolled out anywhere,” he said.

LWL expects to establish the property over the next twelve months, which will cater for about 50 families each year.