Gold Series – Perth: $1.5M in rare care.
- Perth Children's Hospital Foundation
Gold Series – Perth: $1.5M in rare care.
- Perth Children's Hospital Foundation
When Jaya was told her son Mitchell wouldn’t live past his fifth birthday, her world stopped.
Mitchell was diagnosed with Pallister-Killian Syndrome (PKS), a rare and complex genetic condition that affects different cells in the body in unpredictable ways. With fewer than 500 known cases worldwide – and only around 30 in Australia – Mitchell is one of just a handful of children living with PKS in WA.
Now seven years old, Mitchell is beating the odds every day. Last month, his story inspired nearly 200 guests at Gold Series – Perth, an exclusive event that raised over $1.5 million to help kids like him living with rare and undiagnosed diseases.
“Being a carer for a child with a rare or undiagnosed disease, there’s not a lot of support, there’s not a lot of things you can access,” said Jaya. “It can often feel like you’re on your own, and that’s why dedicated initiatives like the Rare Care Centre are so vital for families like ours.”
Held at Perth Mess Hall, Gold Series – Perth 2025 brought together Perth’s business leaders, donors, and changemakers for a cause. Guests enjoyed a curated menu by Guillaume Brahimi (Bistro Guillaume), brought to life by Ultimo Catering, and entertainment from The Potbelleez and Perth Girls Choir.
Now in its third year, the gala was co-hosted by Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation (SCHF) and Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation (PCHF). This year’s success was driven by Gold Series – Perth Committee members and philanthropists: Bryce Sceresini (Chair), Sarita Escalante, Ania Fry, Benita Kam, and Mei Yong.
Across Australia, over 500,000 children are living with a rare disease. Many of these conditions are poorly understood and notoriously hard to diagnose. Families often wait an average of five years to receive answers, and tragically, 30 per cent of children diagnosed with rare diseases won’t reach their fifth birthday.
“When one of my children was diagnosed with a rare disease – Kawasaki disease – as a baby, I witnessed firsthand the challenges families face navigating complex and uncertain diagnoses,” Committee member Sarita Escalante said.
“It was thankfully a short journey for us, but it gave me the appreciation for the importance of the need for paediatric research, especially in this area of rare diseases of which many do not yet have a known cure.”
Prof. Gareth Baynam – Rare Care Centre, PCH, with Gold Series – Perth Committee members Mei Yong, Bryce Sceresini (Chair), Sarita Escalante and Ania Fry, alongside PCHF team members Alex Harper, Rebecca Barber and Sean Stephens.
Kristina Keneally, CEO of SCHF, said: “Gold Series – Perth is changing the future for children living with rare and undiagnosed diseases – no matter where they live. By joining forces across states, we’re driving faster diagnoses, better treatments, and real hope.”
Carrick Robinson, CEO of PCHF, added: “This event is more than a gala — it’s a movement. Gold Series – Perth connects people who can drive solutions to some of the most complex challenges in paediatric healthcare.”
Committee member Mei Yong said: “There’s something truly powerful about being in a room full of people who genuinely care and give so generously. This work offers hope and can change the future for families who often have nowhere else to turn.”
A special thanks to Gold Series – Perth’s event partners, including gold partner ABC Bullion, diamond partners, SHAPE Australia and Refuge Small Bar, silver partners, Merino & Co., Parata Property and Shaw and Partners, and wine partner, Cherubino – thank you for supporting us in pursuit of better futures for sick kids.
