Dancer to walk in support of Livewire

A ST LEONARDS dancer will aim to provide the same happiness she was given to other kids struggling with serious illnesses or conditions throughout her fundraising challenge over the course of November.

From November 15 to 28, 16-year-old St Ignatius student Mackenzie Sinclair will walk a minimum of 50 kilometres over 14 days with a personal fundraising goal set at $500 for the Starlight Foundation, who have granted more than 11,000 wishes to sick children of all ages.

Mackenzie still gets headaches when she runs, jumps and walks following brain surgeries in 2017 and 2020, but she has decided to set herself a challenge with the encouragement of some of her mates.

Mackenzie was diagnosed in 2015 with an arachnoid cyst in the centre of her brain at the young age of 10.

Two years later, Mackenzie went in for the first of her two brain surgeries, which is when she first met the team at Livewire, the Starlight Foundation’s adolescent program.

Livewire aims to connect teenagers living with a serious illness, disability or chronic health condition with other individuals who are going through the same thing via an online platform, which had a huge effect on Mackenzie.

“The team at Livewire had a big impact on me when I was having surgeries,” Mackenzie said.

“After the diagnosis I didn’t really have anyone my age that I could connect with about my experiences or understand what it was like to be in hospital appointments all the time.”

The Starlight Foundation was thankfully able to assist Mackenzie by connecting her to someone else in their Livewire program who understood first-hand what she was going through.

This was particularly helpful to Mackenzie in 2020 during her most recent surgery, as visitors were rarely allowed to visit her due to COVID-19 restrictions.

The Starlight Foundation was able to provide good memories to Mackenzie, such as organising a trip to Sydney.

But Mackenzie decided it was time to give back to non-profit organisation, which is why she launched her ‘Legging it for Livewire’ fundraiser.

“Mackenzie really initiated this whole fundraiser given she has had a lot to do with Starlight and she just wanted to give back to those who have done so much for her,” father Glenn said.

“We are really proud of her taking that initiative and wanting to do this. It’s her way of saying thanks.”

To donate to Mackenzie’s challenge head to gobigchallenge.org.au/mackenzie-sinclair.