Mairi Westwater

100 Skips a Day 2026

I’m fundraising in support of my friend.

So far I have completed 5,000 skips in
August for kids with genetic diseases

Total Skips

5,000 Skips

Goal

5,000 Skips

Why I’m skipping
I’ve signed up to do 100 skips a day throughout August to raise money for Children’s Medical Research Institute and help save more kids’ lives. Can you help by sharing this message with the people you know and asking them to donate too?

Here's just one story explaining why this cause is so important:

Harrison was a healthy, active child, until one day out of the blue, “He wasn’t quite right, and then the next day he just stopped walking, and we knew something was very wrong,” said his father, Adam.

Doctors found something wrong with his blood, and when his parents were told it could be leukaemia “everything stopped.” As terrifying as that word was for them to hear, it got worse as Harrison’s case was unique, and it took many DNA tests to determine he had acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). They were lucky to get the right treatment after the right diagnosis, but it could have gone very differently if that work had not been done.

“Medical research is so important to get any answers for any genetic condition,” said his mum, Naomi. “For Harrison, the research done prior to him getting sick is what helped save our son. Research needs to continue so the next child diagnosed with a rare form of AML or any cancer—it can help them.”

I care about the 1 in 20 Aussie kids who face a birth defect or genetic disease, like cancer. Most people don’t know that cancer is caused by changes in genes—but almost everyone will be touched by it. So, the research you and I support today may one day help someone we know, someone in our family.

There’s lots of work to do, but there is also lots of hope.

Join me. Share this message. Donate. Thank You!

Latest updates

05 Aug 2026 by Mairi Westwater

Why I'm skipping

 

On 1 August I started the Jeans for Genes Skipping Challenge. I waited a few days before posting about it, just to make sure these wee pudgy legs could actually still skip (a very different experience from when I was a kid) before publicly humiliating myself.

So far I've managed 100 skips a day, and I woke up this morning to my first surprise donation from a very dear friend, who knows how much I was dreading asking people to part with their hard-earned money. I know most people are doing it pretty tough at the moment, and it can feel like everyone is raising money for something, so if all you can do is share my page, I'd really appreciate it.

I chose to get involved in this fundraiser because I know how incredibly lucky I am that my children were born without a genetic condition. I can only begin to imagine the impact that a diagnosis like that has, not just on a child but on their whole family, and how a mother must feel when confronted with a very different future for their child than the one they had imagined.

 

I'm also doing this for a very special family who have received more devastating news in the last year or two than most people experience in a lifetime. I watch this family thrive every day under the strain of endless appointments and unknowns, all while bringing so much joy to everyone in their lives.  I want them to know they're loved and although I can't do much day to day to ease the load, I can get out my comfort zone and beg for a couple dollars to show them that they are important and we see everything they are trying to do for their kids.

Every donation, no matter the size, is so appreciated. And if donating isn't possible, sharing my page means just as much. ❤️

 


Raised so far

With your help, I have raised...

$721

You’re helping fund research to find cures for kids with genetic diseases. Every dollar counts!

Biggest Donor

Lolly

$61

Thank you so much to my biggest supporter, Lolly, for donating an incredible $61 to help fund vital research into curing children’s genetic diseases.

My Impact

So far this year, I've helped fund...

14

Hours of research

Every $50 raised funds an hour of vital research.

Thank you to our donors

$24

Krysiba Tagg

1 month ago

$12

Trish Schosck-ruge

Go girl GO ❤️ Proud of you

1 month ago

$20

Matched Gift

Your donation has been doubled by our sponsors!

1 month ago

$20

Clare Daly

Fantastic cause! Great effort. Hope the body isn't too sore xx

1 month ago

$45

Matched Gift

Your donation has been doubled by our sponsors!

1 month ago

$45

Mary Norris

1 month ago

$61

Matched Gift

Your donation has been doubled by our sponsors!

1 month ago

$61

Lolly

Thank you for all your doing for our rare babies and zebras out there .. your effort is helping them have a future

1 month ago

$24

Matched Gift

Your donation has been doubled by our sponsors!

1 month ago

$24

Brittany Agosta

❤️

1 month ago

$18

Matched Gift

Your donation has been doubled by our sponsors!

1 month ago

$18

Amy

1 month ago

$40

Matched Gift

Your donation has been doubled by our sponsors!

1 month ago

$40

Izzy And Tommy Bond

You are a selfless, kind and wonderful person. And also an inspiration. Well done.

1 month ago

$56

Matched Gift

Your donation has been doubled by our sponsors!

1 month ago

$56

Robin Curtis

Beautiful Lady x

1 month ago

$40

Margaret Norris

Well done wee Mairi, you're a star xxxxxx

1 month ago

$40

Matched Gift

Your donation has been doubled by our sponsors!

1 month ago

$15

Kat And Toni Smith

Xx

1 month ago

$15

Matched Gift

Your donation has been doubled by our sponsors!

1 month ago

$18

Tiana T

1 month ago

$29

Liz Hough

💙🩷 Go you good thing 💙🩷

1 month ago