More than $100,000 has been raised so far by construction workers around the state as the CFMEU launches its 6th Hard Hankie Appeal for the Royal Children’s Hospital.

The ‘Hard Hat Hankie’ appeal represents the efforts of Victoria’s construction workers who come together each year to raise funds and make a contribution to the Good Friday Appeal.

In the last five years, the CFMEU has raised a total of $625,000 through selling specifically designed merchandise, rattling buckets on site, raffles and other creative initiatives.

Victorian Secretary John Setka said that the publicity from the launch encouraged more people to donate.

“There are always people who leave it to the last minute and the Royal Children’s Hospital is such a worthy cause.

“We are involved in a number of community ventures, but the Good Friday Appeal is by far and away the one that everyone feels passionate about. Many of our members are fathers and they know first hand the valuable work of the hospital.”

The banner promoting the Hard Hat Hankie Appeal will be unfurled by 15 year old Tyson Wilson – a patient at the Royal Children’s Hospital and a grandson of a construction worker.

Tyson has Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva (FOP) which is an extremely rare connective tissue disease.

The other guest star to appear at the launch alongside Tyson is 12 year old Natasha Macaluso who is the winner of the 2016 drawing competition and whose artwork adorns all the merchandise for the Hard Hat Hankie appeal.

The competition is open to all children of CFMEU members each year and the prize is a $2,500 voucher from Flight Centre.

The launch will take place today on the 60th floor, Vision Apartments, Brady Constructions, 500 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne at 12 noon.