Telethon 2024 wrap: Record weekend highlights very best of the West, smashing fundraising record with $83.2m

To see the best of Telethon is to see the best of Western Australia. And the best of people.

And yet again, despite more and more families doing it tough, the total raised by the generosity of all walks of WA life became the best ever — an incredible $83.2 million.

For more than 26 hours, broadcast live on Channel 7, stars of stage and screen mingled with political and business leaders, who mixed with parents and kids from all over the State.

All aligned to one cause — raise as much money as possible for those who need it most.

Where else would a former UK Special Forces soldier crack eggs on his own head for fun? Where else would the Treasurer of the Australia’s richest State be dunked in a brim-full water bath?

Where else would a musician battling cancer play his latest single live on stage?

Where else would you see one of Australia’s biggest TV stars, Natalie Barr, break down in tears, after reading the inspiring story of 12-year-old Noah Johnson and his battle with a rare cancer.

Where else would you see that brave boy empty a bucket of slime on to a former world boxing champion?

And where else would you see tiny Telethon star Florence Shanks — who in her four years alive has already had three major open heart surgeries — blowing her own bubbles on the floor as the world’s highest donating per capita telethon rolled on around her.

As this year’s donations relentlessly ticked over, the total raised since the first Telethon in 1968 reached an astonishing $650m.

And for the first time in all those years, Telethon’s community fundraisers — the kids, schools, clubs, families and groups who bake cakes, sell lemonade and hold movie nights — raised more than $1 million.

Proving emphatically the theme of this year’s Telethon — Incredible Together — was more than just a tagline.

It is Western Australia’s truth.

Announcing this year’s final total, Seven West Media chairman Kerry Stokes thanked all those involved — particularly the WA public.

“If you want to be anywhere in the world and you have a problem with children, this is the place to be, because we have a generous community that supports the activities and helps us help all those families and children,” Mr Stokes said.

Richard Goyder, chairman of the Channel 7 Telethon Trust, said he “could not be prouder to be a West Australian”.

“We should feel grateful that the community does what it does for Telethon. Notwithstanding all the pressures people are living under at the moment,” he said.

“We also should be proud of what we do for these families and kids — but also thank them for coming forward and showing us their vulnerabilities, so that as a community we can help them and help them solve the riddles of some of the diseases.”

Major donations included $16.7m raised at the Telethon Ball, $8m from the Stan Perron Charitable Foundation, $5m from Australian Capital Equity and $2.5m from Crown Resorts Foundation.

Handing over $6m from the Federal Government, the Prime Minister said his highlight of the weekend were the Telethon kids.

“The best thing is the kids themselves. They are so uplifting, they’re full of joy and going through hardship,” Anthony Albanese said.

“The spirit of the whole of WA. This is the largest per capita fundraising, not just in Australia but the world. That’s something West Australians should be very proud of.”

And Premier Roger Cook — who confirmed a donation of $13 million from the State Government — said while the major contributors were important, the essence of the event was ordinary West Australians giving what they could.

“Obviously we love the big donations, the big dollars, that keeps that total going up,” Mr Cook said.

“But the magic of Telethon is kids giving their pocket money. Kids looking after kids, and it’s so wonderful to see. The biggest in the world, and quintessentially Western Australian.

“With cost of living, these are tough times for a lot of families — but everyone’s continuing to give.”

Alongside the mammoth TV production — an incredible feat of organisation and stamina based in RAC Arena — Telethon brought Perth to a standstill outside the venue, with the Telethon Family Festival.

Thousands of families flocked to Wellington Street to enjoy the rides, the food and the atmosphere of a city coming together.

And one of the most sought-after selfies was with former Wiggle Emma Memma, who was back at Telethon for her second year.

“I think we are constantly inspired by how much support there is for the State for this one cause,” she said.

“People in Western Australia are used to this but across Australia we don’t see all of this. It is quite remarkable.”

While the city came together, individuals were also pushing themselves to the limit to squeeze out every cent they could.

Dan Gardiner — the Skate Man — wheeled around Optus Stadium for 24 hours, racking up over 400km in the process. Joshua Ferguson somehow ran 50km a day for 50 days.

And Andy Donaldson, four-time world record-holding swimmer, swam the 33km from Rottnest Island to Elizabeth Quay — raising $30,000 in the process.

“When you’re doing it for a cause like this, and for all the children of WA, you find a way to push through,” he said.

As they were at the start, this year’s Llittle Telethon Stars were there for the spectacular finale.

Nate Fearnall, 8, the vibrant and witty young boy with cerebral palsy. Seven year-old Nazeem Fahmi, who took 13 agonising minutes before he drew his first breath at birth.

Charlee Hosking, 10, who was diagnosed with a brain tumour aged just two. And four year-old Florence, the remarkable young girl with a complex congenital heart condition.

“Thank you WA, for supporting kids like me,” she said.