Leniece

The night before Leniece’s husband, Rick, passed away in March 2024, everything seemed fine. They came home, had dinner and their two young sons, Riley and Harry, were tucked into bed.  

But just a few hours later, Rick had a heart attack. He was only 48 years old. 

As a sergeant in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) with 24 years of service, he was incredibly passionate about his career. He was seemingly fit and healthy, but it would come to light after his death that he had underlying heart issues during his service. 

“He would have retired in the RAAF. He was what they call a ‘lifer’ – he was never interested in anything else,” Leniece says.

Leniece, and her two young sons, Harry and Riley, are now figuring out how to navigate life without Rick.

“As a parent, I have no choice but to soldier on to ensure the boys are as functional and happy as possible, but a piece of me died the moment Rick died. ”

Leniece works full-time at a local hospital and with no family living nearby, she’s juggling the role of both parents.

“I never thought in a billion years I’d be in this position, and I didn’t really think of Legacy at the time because Rick didn’t die in war. 

Since Leniece connected with Legacy in late 2024, Legacy has been able to assist Leniece with advocacy claims, ensuring her family receives their rightful entitlements. 

Generous supporters like you have also helped provide financial assistance to cover the cost of the boys’ sporting activities and a laptop for Riley to complete his homework. 

Leniece says she is incredibly grateful for the compassion of the Legacy community and for the support of her Legatee, Gail. 

“I’ve always said it takes a village to look after a child…I know that if I needed to ring Gail, she would be there. 

“I’m learning that I have to ask for help and it’s not just for me, it’s about getting the help so I can be the best mum for the kids.” 

At Legacy, we personalise our support for every family we care for. This could include assisting with advocacy claims, providing emergency financial aid, covering the cost of school supplies and sport, bill assistance and more.   

By donating today, you’ll be providing essential support to veterans’ families, like Leniece’s, who are grappling with the unexpected loss or injury of their loved ones.  

Thank you for helping Keep the Promise to families like Leniece’s, and to the the thousands of vulnerable widows/ers, children and people living with disabilities Legacy cares for.