Based on the life of:
Max Lechner
2000 - 2011
Benefitting the Charity: The Compassionate Friends -www.tcf.org.uk
6-November-2021
The 6th November 2021 would have been Max's 21st birthday.
'Max Goes to School' is now in many countries around the world and Max is still making friends with children he's never met who love his cheeky smile and friendly nature.
The years may be passing but Max is loved and missed each and every day.
How to get the Book "Max Goes To School"
If you are interested in purchasing the Book or require further information, please send an email to info@maxgoestoschool.org.uk.
Past Events / Other News
Aunty Nucky would be happy to read the book at any library or pre school in the Sydney area. Just send a request via the Website Contact Form to enable that to happen.
Letter from Andrew Hewitt, Corporate Development Manager, Ronald McDonald House Randwick
Subject: Invitation to Ronald McDonald House Randwick 'Introduction Night' on Tuesday 12th August 2014
Dear Nicky,
Thank you for supporting Ronald McDonald House Randwick. Your generous donation of $500 in February through 'Max Goes To School' book sales had a significant impact to the families and seriously ill children who stayed at the House. It is through generous donations like yours, we can provide a 'home away from home' for over 850 families every year.
In the last 12 months, we renovated seven of our rooms, thanks to our Adopt a Room program, giving families a warm and inviting place to call home. We have some very exciting plans and projects scheduled for the coming years; including our second Ronald McDonald Family Room, scheduled to open at the end of this year at Royal North Shore Hospital; and much needed renovations to our isolation units at the House.
We would like to invite you to an Introduction Night on Tuesday 12th August, in our newly opened Family Room at Sydney Children's Hospital. Meet likeminded individuals who share the same passion to support the Randwick House and see first-hand the impact your support has made.
It is with your continued support we can grow our programs; the House, our Family Rooms and provide educational support through the Learning Program.
Your RSVP by 25th July to either myself or our Family Room Coordinator, Daliah, is greatly appreciated. We hope you can join us.
Kind regards,
Andrew Hewitt
Corporate Development Manager
Ronald McDonald House Randwick
Aunty Nicky visits Changangkha Middle Secondary School in Thimphu, Bhutan - April 2014
Aunty Nicky was given the opportunity to read Max Goes To School to the children in class 3 at the Changangkha Middle Secondary School in Thimphu, Bhutan. She received a fabulous welcome by the children and they all had fun joining in with "It's his favourite thing to do!"
Aunty Nicky comes to St. Margaret's School, Aberdeen - February 2014
The girls in 1-4 Junior at St Margaret's School, Aberdeen were thrilled to have a special visitor on Wednesday; Nicky Bakonyi, the author of Max goes to School, came in to read the book in assembly. The girls enjoyed learning actions for the story and also hearing more about the inspiration for the book. The book is a tribute to an enormously courageous schoolboy called Max, who lived in Aberdeen, but who sadly lost his life at the very young age of 11.
Class 1M chose to promote the book to further such a worthy cause as proceeds from the book are divided among four charities.
Extract from St Margaret's School Weekly News dated 27-February-2014.
Book Launch at Nielsen Park, Sydney on Sunday 17-November-2013 from 3-5pm
The Sydney Launch of Max Goes To School took place at Nielsen Park on November the 17th 2013 from 3-5pm. Dr Joanna McMillan of Channel Nine's Today Show was the MC and representatives of The Humpty Dumpty Foundation and Ronald McDonald House Charities talked about the work they do and how the money raised will be spent. At the launch there was face painting, games and cup cakes to decorate with swirls and twirls of icing and sparkles on the top!
At the beginning of November, author, Nicky Bakonyi, visited the Edyvean Library at the The Scots College and talked to Kindergarten and Year 1 classes about her book, Max Goes to School. She wrote the book about her nephew, Max. The book launch for Nicky's book will be held at Nielsen Park on Sunday, 17 November from 3:00pm to 5:00pm. There will be events and activities to entertain those attending (children are welcome).
All money raised from the sale of the book will go to children's charities.
Max Goes To School Storytimes
Storytimes of Max Goes To School took place at Double Bay Library, Sydney on Monday 4-November-2013 at 10:30am and at Paddington Library, Sydney on Friday 8-November-2013 at 10:30am.
Aunty Nucky would be happy to read the book at any library or pre school in the Sydney area. Just send a request via the Website Contact Form to enable that to happen.
Max Goes To School at the Rose Bay Fair, Sydney on Sunday 27-October-2013
At the Rose Bay Fair, Max Goes To School was on sale. There was a bean bag game with a prize to win, face-painting of Bertie the mouse or any other character from the book, and plenty of other stalls and fun things to do.
Book Launch at Kippie Lodge on 28-August-2013
Max used to love going to Kippie Lodge, a country club popular with families on the outskirts of Aberdeen so it seemed the perfect venue for the launch of "Max Goes To School". Family, friends and many of Max's school pals from Cults Primary and Cults Academy, were amongst the first to see copies of the book hot off the press!
A bouncy castle, a face painter and a magician kept the younger children amused and they had great fun running about the lawn, just like Max used to do.
The MC for the day was Kirstin Gove, well known in the North East for her days as a STV presenter and a big fan of Max and his family.
One of the special guests, who had come all the way from Glasgow, was Claire Hughes, representing Yorkhill Children's Foundation- (one of the four chosen charities to benefit from the sale of the book). Claire talked about the charity and what they do to help sick children from all over Scotland. Max had twice been a patient at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Glasgow.
Two characters from the book, former Cults Primary Head Teacher Mr Smithers or "Mr Smithereens" as he is known in the book and "Alison the dinner lady" came to show their support and Alison, completely covered in gooey custard in the book, reassuringly looks completely different in real life!
Books were signed by the author, Nicky Bakonyi or 'Aunty Nucky' as Max used to call her, while Max's brothers, Danny and Christian, with support from their friends, did a magnificent job manning the tills.
Claire Wyness, a close family friend has said that it is virtually impossible to capture the essence of Max on paper as "Max was Max - a complete one off" but the lively illustrations by award winning illustrator, Michael Mucci from Sydney, have captured his bubbly and sunny personality perfectly. It is good to know that the two things Max was most famous for, being everyone's friend and his enthusiasm for life, came across in the book as loud and clear as his infectious giggle.
Book Launch at Waterstone's Aberdeen on 29-August-2013
"Max Goes To School" was successfully launched at Waterstone's, Union Bridge, Aberdeen on 29-August-2013.
Aunty Nucky was joined by her son, Andrew, who was visiting from New York, her daughter, Sarah visiting from Australia, Max's family, Mum, Clare, Dad, Luddi and brother, Christian, many of Max's former teachers, family friends plus late night shoppers; one from as far away as China who said her son enjoyed reading books so he could practice his English.
"Max Goes To School" is now in China, Cambodia, the USA and soon to be launched in Sydney, Australia.
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