Children helping children as Karratha rallies behind young fundraisers

Two young Pilbara siblings are proving that big hearts can come in small packages, with their fundraising efforts to help sick children drawing extraordinary support from the local Pilbara community and beyond.

Finlay East, 8, and his sister Summer have each taken on fundraising challenges for children’s charities, combining their passions with a desire to give back.

The children’s mother, Suzie East, said the idea started with a simple family discission.

“We had a conversation at the beginning of the year about just doing something of for other people, like something kind for other people,” she said.

Summer chose the Starlight Foundation through the Starlight Super Swim, a national charity swim running the month on February, while Finlay took on the Make-A-Wish ride, building on his love of cycling after winning the Education Minister’s Running Challenge last year.

Summer said she enjoyed being able to fundraise to help children who need it the most.

“I like going to the pool to go swimming while also helping sick kids who are in the hospital,” she said.

The response from the Pilbara community has been overwhelming.

Finlay has now raised close to $5000 including an generous $1000 donation from Mitsubishi Motors Pilbara, along with support from several other local businesses.

“Most of the people that are donating for them, we haven’t even met them before, but they just love what the kids are doing,” Suzie said.

Finlay is now leading all participants nationally for the total donations in the Make-A-Wish ride, which has led to the foundation asking him to champion their social media in recognition of his efforts.

“I’m very very happy and I’m thankful for everyone who has donated so far,” Finlay said.

Meanwhile, Summer has passed level 12 swimming and is spending hours doing laps at the Karratha Leisureplex for her Starlight fundraiser.

“It’s been really nice for the kids that they’ve been able to pick something that they like doing,” Suzie said.

“They’re both helping sick kids, but in slightly different ways.”

She described the experience as a “kindness wheel”, with generosity inspiring more generosity.

“I just want to say thank you to the Karratha community and businesses for cheering the kids on,” she said.

Finlay (Make-A-Wish): fundraise.makeawish.org.au

Summer (Starlight Super Swim):superswim.org.au/s-east