News

Evie and MAG raise funds for Type 1 diabetes research

By Nicole Thomson

Oct 27, 2021

Bright in blue: Evie Bassett (left) and Lyla Bassett.

Spreading the word: Evie Bassett and Hesandu Ambalangodage sharing information about Type 1 diabetes with Year 3B.

Sticking together: Harlow McCallum, Wynter Whipp, Grace Spear, Evie Andersen and Lily Reid.

Having a ball: Students at the Type 1 diabetes fundraising disco at Moama Anglican Grammar last Friday.

It’s fun to stay: Students dancing to the *YMCA* at the fundraising disco at MAG.

Getting their kicks: Students dancing at the fundraising disco.

Evie Bassett is raising money for Type 1 diabetes research, but she’s not doing it alone — she has enlisted the help of the Moama Anglican Grammar school community.

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Evie, a Grade 6 student at MAG, has been walking to raise funds for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation as a part of its One Walk Step Challenge, but also organised a disco fundraiser for her schoolmates on Friday, October 22.

“There was a disco at lunch, and two of the leaders came around in the mornings to collect the donations,” Evie said.

“We raised $450.”

Evie was herself diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when she was five years old, and has raised over $1000 for the cause so far.

“I haven’t really done any fundraising before,” she said.

“I have a JDRF One Walk page that is raising money, and so the money from the school will go towards that.

“From the start of the month, I’ve walked 150km, I think.”

“(Getting the school fundraising started) was something that came up with Mum one day. She said, ‘Wouldn’t it be amazing if we could get the school involved’, and I said, ‘That would be a lot of money to raise’, and it was.”

After some help from her sister to decide on the disco idea, Evie presented the idea to MAG head of primary Nici Deller.

“It was a bit more than a note; she presented a manila folder as a proposal,” Mrs Deller said.

“She had her idea, she had figured out what she needed to do in preparation, and we supported facilitating this, but Evie ran the whole thing.”

Mrs Deller explained that as a part of the activities, Evie was raising awareness about Type 1 diabetes within the school community.

“She got all the leaders involved, not just on the day, but the week leading up to the week, the students went to the classrooms and spoke about Type 1 diabetes,” Mrs Deller said.

“On the day of the disco, all of the Grade 6s came out in masses and supported Evie, and then we all did the YMCA, and the Macarena — it was really great.

“Evie has been one of our four school leaders this year, and we’re incredibly proud of the way she conducted herself.

“She basically had one week — I got the proposal on the Friday, and then it happened on Friday the following week — she did it so quickly, but she demonstrated great leadership skills at such a young age.

“We’re excited to see what happens as Evie moves into secondary school next year at MAG, we think she’s going to kick some great goals.”

Evie is still raising funds online for Type 1 diabetes research at walk.jdrf.org.au/fundraisers/eviebassett