Back left to right: Kelli Francis and Tracey Maguire. Seated from the left: Sharron Attwood, Richard and Kara Nell and Colin Maguire.
David Baylis       d466685
Camera IconBack left to right: Kelli Francis and Tracey Maguire. Seated from the left: Sharron Attwood, Richard and Kara Nell and Colin Maguire. David Baylis       d466685 Credit: Supplied/David Baylis       d466685

Ellenbrook: Mrs Brown’s Ball raises funds for cancer research

Lisa ThomasThe Advocate

The charity ball, which was organised by fundraising group The Sparkly Umbrella and held on Friday, celebrated local resident Tracey Maguire’s mother, Mrs Brown, who died of cancer on St Patricks Day last year.

The event also honoured three-year-old Aveley boy, Kai Nell, who stole the hearts of many around WA during his two-year battle with a rare form of leukaemia, two bone marrow transplants and a widespread search for donors.

Mrs Maguire, a co-founder of The Sparkly Umbrella, said after hearing that Kai had died in January and following his journey with treatment and the search for a donor on social media, she knew that she wanted to do something in his memory.

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She said the ball, which would be held annually, would be held locally, supported by locals and would honour locals who had died of cancer or survived the disease.

“My mummy would be so proud of this event and she would love that there was one big party in her honour, and she would love that she was sharing it with Kai,” she said.

“It’s very exciting to be able to honour them and share who they were and what made them special, while making a difference.”

Kai’s parents, Richard and Kara Nell, were guests of honour at the event.

Mrs Nell said one of the hardest things about Kai’s death was not knowing who would look after him.

“When Kai died my biggest worry for him was not knowing who would be there watching out for him because I didn’t really know anyone who had passed,” she said.

“When I met Tracey and we talked about her mum and saw a picture of her, I knew that she was with him and I felt comfort that they were together.”

Mr Nell said the support from the community during Kai’s treatment and after his passing had been overwhelming. “We got so much support from our social media page and there are many other families who don’t get that and that’s what we tried to reflect,” he said.

“It’s obviously about Kai, but it’s also bigger than him – it’s about saving kids who are still fighting.”

He said Kai’s followers had amazed him and were helping create a legacy in his honour.

“The things we’ve enjoyed seeing from the social media page is that people have started to give blood and donate bone marrow, but it’s also the people who say that their husbands have come home earlier from work to spend time with their kids because of Kai,” he said.

“And a little boy who had a birthday and instead of asking for presents asked people to donate money to cancer research because of Kai.

“It just has to mean something that he’s gone.”

Mrs Nell said Kai was a cheeky boy with a lot of confidence and had no doubt he was at the ball dancing in his “green shoes”.

“He went out into the world in those 11½ months in remission and he ruled the world,” she said. “He would have been up on stage and dancing.”

Every cent raised from the event will go to Cancer Council WA and directed to a children’s cancer research program.

The Sparkly Umbrella committee member Sharron Attwood said the night was a huge success and generated so much support from the local community.

“Mrs Brown’s Ball was a night full of fun, laughter, remembrance and hope,” she said.

“When the final tally raised on the night was announced as a sneak over $22,000 the crowd erupted into applause – excited at being a part of something we all found meaning in. We have already had requests for tables at next year’s ball – and we will definitely be back!”