St Mary’s College Broome prepares for fundraiser for 7-year-old Kelsie Stewart

An upcoming fundraiser for a seven-year-old Broome girl diagnosed with a rare genetic condition at just 13 months old has seen an outpouring of support from the community and her classmates well before the event has even been held.

Kelsie Stewart is one of just 1200 people living with glycosylation worldwide, an umbrella term for a group of more than 130 rare genetic metabolic disorders.

Her specific type of CDG — CDGA1 — primarily affects her physical capacity, meaning she relies heavily on mobility assistance tools such as a walker.

Supporting Kelsie throughout her life has been the Saba Rose Button Foundation, a charity that provides financial support for children with special needs like Kelsie so they can access physiotherapy and specialised equipment.

And in an effort to help others living with similar conditions, Kelsie’s mum, Lee Stewart, has been busy preparing for a fundraiser at Kelsie’s school, St Mary’s College Broome, on May 13.

There will be an array of activities, including an outdoor movie screening, live music, dance performances, rides and raffles.

Steve Chambers from Tackle World Broome and his wife Kim Farina have personally funded the outdoor movie screening for the event, having known Kelsie for quite some time since her father became an employee of the business.

“We just thought we’d help out,” Mr Chambers said.

“Lee’s been working very hard and I think the fundraiser will go really well.”

The event will raise much-needed funds for Kelsie’s equipment and physical therapy, as well as a portion going towards not-for-profit charity Saba Rose Button Foundation.

Saba Rose Button Foundation general manager Kirsten Button, who met Ms Stewart back in 2021, said they felt honoured to be receiving funds raised at the event.

“We’re really excited, feeling very grateful,” she said.

“Those funds will be used to assist children in necessitous circumstances, filling in the gaps that NDIS is not covering,

“We want to personally thank Lee and Nicole Barnes for what they do to support these kids.”

As the finishing touches are made to the fundraiser, staff and students at Kelsie’s school — St Mary’s College — help finalise plans to volunteer their time for their adored classmate.

Kelsie’s Year 2 teacher at St Mary’s College Grace Anderson said the fundraiser highlighted the evident wrap-around effect and celebrated the incredible community in Broome.

“I hope Saturday’s fundraiser raises not only awareness for Kelsie’s condition, but also to show her family what an impact one little girl with CDG in a red-dirt Kimberley town can have on so many people’s lives.”

And it’s not the first event Kelsie’s mother has put on to support the Saba Rose foundation, with a dance party held at Cable Beach in May last year seeing Broome residents don their best green outfits to raise awareness of the foundation’s work.

“Never in a million years did I dream that I could deliver a community thing like this,” she said.

“It just keeps growing momentum — it’s been very humbling to think they’re doing it for Kelsie,

“We’ve worked so hard for advocacy and inclusion for her.”

You can donate to the Saba Rose Button Foundation by going to their website sabafoundation.org.au/want-to-help.