Charity Ball Supports Kids with Cancer
Kai’s Big GOLD Ball, one of Western Australia’s most significant charity events, will return bigger than ever this October, with around 1,000 guests expected to attend in support of the Kids Cancer Support Group. The event will be held at Crown Towers Perth, marking its return to the venue for the first time since 2023. This year’s ball has almost doubled in size, with tickets selling out within just one week.
The event will feature a five-star three-course dinner, a six-hour drinks package, live entertainment, auctions, and raffles, including the opportunity to win an all-new Geely EX5 Complete. The premium all-electric SUV combines performance, advanced technology, and everyday comfort, with all proceeds from the raffle supporting the Kids Cancer Support Group.
Kids Cancer Support Group and Its Mission
Kids Cancer Support Group is a Perth-based not-for-profit that has supported children diagnosed with cancer and blood disorders at Perth Children’s Hospital since 1983. Run by skilled parents and caregivers with firsthand experience of childhood cancer, the organisation provides tailored practical, emotional, and peer support from diagnosis, throughout treatment, and beyond.
Funds raised through the ball will support services including qualified peer support, play therapy, supported playgroups, mental health assistance, bereavement care, and the Helping Hands program, which provides families with professional home cleaning, gardening, essential vehicle maintenance, and fuel and supermarket vouchers.
The funding will also support the development of the new WA Childhood Cancer Community House, designed to create a central place where families can access connection, practical assistance, mental health support, play therapy, and service navigation.
A Personal Story Behind the Event
For Kids Cancer Support Group president Richard Nell and his wife, the event carries deep personal meaning. The ball is named in memory of their son Kai, who passed from cancer three weeks before his fourth birthday after spending almost half his life in isolation.
“Kai is where this journey began for our family, and of course, the ball will always carry his spirit and his memory,” Mr Nell said.
During Kai’s treatment, the family spent months inside a small isolation room because his immune system was severely compromised. Despite the hardship of treatment, Kai remained a funny, cheeky, and energetic little boy who loved music and dancing.
Each of the event’s 90 tables will be dedicated to a WA child affected by childhood cancer or a blood disorder. Their stories will be shared throughout the evening, providing guests with an insight into the realities of childhood cancer and the impact it has on the whole family.
More than 100 children are diagnosed with cancer in Western Australia each year. For those families, hospital appointments, blood tests, scans, and treatment can quickly become part of everyday life, while employment, household responsibilities, and financial pressures continue.
The Kids Cancer Support Group aims to ease some of those pressures by helping families with both immediate practical needs and their longer-term emotional and mental wellbeing. A professional cleaner can help prepare a safe home for an immunocompromised child returning from hospital.
Kai’s Big GOLD Ball will be held at Crown Towers Perth on October 10. The event is expected to raise significant funds for the Kids Cancer Support Group, with all proceeds going towards supporting children and families affected by childhood cancer.
There are still a few tickets remaining, and purchase options are available for those who want to support the cause.
The Impact of Community Support
When a child is diagnosed with cancer, the family’s world can become very small, very quickly. The diagnosis can be overwhelming, and the treatment process can be long and arduous. However, with the support of the community, families can feel seen and heard, and they can begin to rebuild their lives. The Kids Cancer Support Group provides a range of services, including qualified peer support, play therapy, and supported playgroups, which can help families cope with the emotional and practical challenges of childhood cancer.
