Carer Jody blown away by her wave of support and Pride of Australia nomination Jody was one of 40 carers at a L'Oreal pampering session at St Kilda. HERALD Sun readers have opened their hearts and wallets to help foster carer Jody, 35, who has cared for more than 40 disadvantaged teenagers. A Herald Sun report last month outlined how it had cost her, financially and personally. Readers have since given her more than $17,000 - $10,000 from one reader - and a car.Told of this yesterday, Jody was almost beyond words. "Knowing I can go to bed at night without worrying about my finances is something I never thought would happen," she said. To think people who don't know me or the kids care that much is just phenomenal. The car is invaluable, given that her old wreck, which had done 450,000km, has just died. Jody will invest some of the money in superannuation, put some towards school fees, and take one of her year 12 children on a holiday. Jody has asked us not to use her last name to help protect the privacy of her foster kids. Spokesman for the Foster Care Association of Victoria, Alistair Perkins, said carers were "very grateful for all the support, but we are also keen to see reimbursement rates reflect the real cost of caring for children, and to see foster carers paid a living wage for the work." Jody has been nominated in this year's Pride of Australia awards.