She’s only young but 11 year old Chloe already knows she wants to make a difference.
Chloe recently decided to bake cupcakes to sell to her school friends and teachers and it was all for a cause very close to her heart.
“One day I said to my mum I want to raise money for Autism,” says Chloe.
“This is because my three brothers have autism and I see the struggle that they have every day trying to get therapy equipment and understanding from people out in the public because they are autistic.”
Chloe says she really enjoyed decorating the cupcakes blue, the colour that symbolises autism.
“My friends at school were really interested in what I was doing because we usually only have cupcakes at school when it's someone's birthday,” says Chloe.
Through her bake sale, Chloe raised $125 for the Autism Research Team at The Kids Research Institute Australia which investigates the genetic and neurobiological causes of autism, as well as innovative new therapies and supports.
“Honestly though the best part was getting to meet Professor Andrew Whitehouse and giving him my money,” says Chloe.
Professor Whitehouse, who heads up the Autism Research Team, said he was equally thrilled to meet Chloe.
“Chloe is such a special girl and I feel very privileged that she has us in our thoughts and would generously donate her time to raise money for our research,” says Andrew.
“Chloe can be rest assured that we will put her donation to good use.”
Chloe says she doesn’t want a world without autism, just more research into its causes and what can be done to support those living with it.
“I don't want to cure autism. I love my brothers just the way they are,” Chloe says.
“I would just like more understanding about why we get Autism and I would like people to be more aware of autism.
“I would love to see the world as autism friendly, go with it not against it”.
And it seems this is just the start of Chloe’s fundraising career. She says she has more plans to raise money and awareness in the future.
“I have a few things in mind and family and friends have been helping me with some ideas,” Chloe says. “So move over mum, the kitchen is mine.”
“I am now doing a competition about "what does your community need "and guess what my subject is? ‘Let's be more autism friendly’”.
From all of us here at The Kids, thank you Chloe for your generous donation.
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