Six-year-old Lilly builds confidence after joining Telethon-funded basketball
Born without a tibia, Lilly regained confidence through Whiz Kidz, a Telethon-funded program for disabled kids.
Lilly was born without a tibia, a shorter fibula, and eight toes on her foot. Lilly had two amputations before her second birthday.
Mardie, her grandmother who raised her full-time, watched her grow withdrawn and ashamed. At playgrounds, Lilly would beg to leave, convinced people were staring at her prosthetic leg.
When Mardie tried enrolling her in local sports, doors slammed shut. Mainstream clubs would not take her on.
Then Whiz Kidz, run by Rebound WA and funded by Telethon, gave her a different kind of space. At basketball, once everyone sits in their chair, the differences vanish.
Now Lilly gets up early on Saturday mornings, eager to play. She removes her prosthetic in front of people without a second thought.
She wears shorts instead of long dresses. Her grandmother says Whiz Kidz gave her the confidence her community would not.
- 12 months
- Lilly's age at first amputation
- Raised full-time since 18 months
- Grandmother's relationship
- Telethon, run by Rebound WA
- Program funder
Why it mattersDisabled children often face closed doors in mainstream sport, leaving them isolated. A single inclusive program can reverse that completely.
AustraliaTelethon-funded Whiz Kidz shows how disability programs in Western Australia can transform a child's whole life and open pathways mainstream sport denies.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 1 h ago
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