Starlight 'Local Champion' named

AN 18-year-old St Leonards resident will represent the Greater Geelong community over the next month and beyond after being named a Community Champion for a foundation close to her heart.

Aged-care worker and nursing student Mackenzie Sinclair has been named the region’s local champion for the Starlight Foundation, which provided her care when she was a child.

“I was ecstatic when I saw the email come through that I was being named a Community Champion, and didn’t really believe it at first,” Ms Sinclair said.

“To be asked to share my story in a more formal way feels like a huge honour.

“There are so many young children, young adults, and families that have benefited from the charity, so to be asked, and able, to be a voice for the work Starlight does is truly amazing.”

In 2015, at the age of 10, Ms Sinclair was diagnosed with a rare brain condition through a research study at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne.

After the MRI was completed for the study, she and her family received the phone call that every family dreads: “We need you to come to the hospital as soon as you can, we have arranged an appointment for you.”

Eight years and two surgeries on her brain later, Ms Sinclair said she had been fortunate to be in much better physical health than when she first became involved with Starlight.

Mackenzie Sinclair was ecstatic to find out she had been named the region’s Local Champion for the Starlight Foundation.

“Now that I’m an advocate for the foundation, I can do a lot of fundraisers and media sharing my story with the foundation in hopes that not only will Starlight receive the recognition they deserve and funds they would really benefit from, but also so families that have never heard of Starlight (and would really benefit from their services) are made aware of it.”

To fundraise this year, Ms Sinclair said she will be walking at least 150km each month from now until April next year, along with other Starlight initiatives throughout the year.

“I have also had multiple businesses offer vouchers to raffle and auction off, so am hoping to hold a raffle in the near future with all funds raised going directly to Starlight.

“Not only do Starlight do so much for the child who is ill, but for the family too, and not many people realise that.

“There are children and families out there who Starlight support that wouldn’t be where they are without Starlight.”

To donate to Mackenzie’s Starlight fundraiser, head to starlightfundraisers.org.au/mackenzie-sinclair