Busselton Jetty to host inaugural Steps of Hope for Telethon in October
A new fundraiser will transform Busselton Pier this October and the community will be invited to take action to support sick, vulnerable and disadvantaged children in WA.
Steps of Hope Busselton Pier Telethon Fundraiser will take place on 10 October and will bring families, businesses and supporters together to raise money for the Telethon, whilst also celebrating the resilience and generosity that has become synonymous with the charity.
The event was announced on Monday at Shelter Brewing Co, with Little Telethon Stars including first Telethon child Maryanne Lazarides and Fat Cat in attendance to mark the occasion.
The event holds special meaning for Ms. Lazarides, who became the first Junior Telethon Star in 1968 at just 11 months old.
“I’ve never walked the pier before, so I’m very excited to do this, especially when I’m healthy and in good shape,” he said.
“I can’t wait to share this experience with these beautiful children, sharing the joy and generosity of WA and the amazing place we have at Busselton Pier.”
Ms Lazarides, born in Merredin with a life-threatening heart condition, credits the care she received in WA with saving her life.
“I was very lucky. I was born in the Wheat Belt and my parents were very lucky to be in Australia and have wonderful cardiologists at the hospital who saved me,” he said.
“I think the Telethon lifts everyone’s spirits and shows what an amazing state WA is and how generous people are in Western Australia.”
Junior Telethon Stars Paige McIllree (9), Emily Houston (10) and Izzy Miller (6) also attended the launch and encouraged the South West community to get behind the fundraiser.
Emily had a simple message for prospective donors.
“$100 would be nice if possible,” he said.
“I think billions is a bit of an exaggeration… but millions, of course.”
Busselton Pier president Natasha Teakle said every pier walk ticket purchased on the day would contribute directly to the Telethon.
“This fits very well with other work we’re doing in this area, such as our marine sponge project to help identify anti-cancer compounds,” he said.
“We are truly passionate about helping future generations at the Pier and giving back to our community.”
Among those attending will be passionate Telethon ambassador Scott Guerini, whose extraordinary fundraising journey began when he was just four years old.
Determined to help sick children, Mr Guerini launched what would become Scott’s Big Walk for Telethon in 2010 by persuading his parents to let him walk 25km from the family farm to Southern Cross.
He has since completed his annual fundraising walk and later expanded the challenge to a marathon in 2014 and then added a 50-kilometer treadmill challenge in 2017.
This year, Mr. Guerini said, he will replace the red soil of the Wheat Belt with the turquoise waters of Geographe Bay.
“It was always about helping sick children and babies, and many times throughout my journey I had little moments where that was reinforced, such as seeing a $100,000 machine at the Telethon Children’s Institute that I was raising at the time,” he said.
“Seeing that I was doing something to help people really made me stronger.
“Through all the difficult times and moments in my walk, I think about the sick children and babies I help through Telethon, and that keeps me going.”
