Kade North (9), of Southern River, was one of the HBF Run for a Reason’s highest individual fundraisers.
Camera IconKade North (9), of Southern River, was one of the HBF Run for a Reason’s highest individual fundraisers. Credit: Supplied/Marcelo Palacios

Fundraising success proves life-changing

Staff ReporterComment News

Kade’s mother Renae North said the family had been trying to raise money for ‘ages’ to buy a Walk Aide for nine-year-old Kade, who has cerebral palsy.

‘It’s a new technology and expensive, and people hadn’t heard of it, so we had a lot of trouble,’ Ms North said.

‘We thought, we’d just do the fundraising ourselves.’

PerthNow Digital Edition.
Your local paper, whenever you want it.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

The Aide, which Kade was able to use for a three-month trial before the run, is a small pack the size of a remote control that straps to his leg under the knee and gives out electrical pulses to help lift his foot.

Kade was one of more than 20 Australian children on the waiting list for the devices, which cost about $5000.

Kade’s target was to complete the run and raise enough so the Centre for Cerebral Palsy could buy his Aide.

News of his mission spread across social media and the family ended up raising $12,500 for the Centre, more than a third of its total $34,121.

This was a record for the Centre, which can now buy Walk Aides for other children as well.

With his Aide, Kade was able to run the 4km course the whole way, something he once could only dream of, with family, friends and Bletchley Park Primary School community members.

‘The Walk Aide has changed my life,’ Kade said.