A group of children who have bravely fought cancer will be representing children’s charity Supertee at Gold Coast Kidz Fashion Week as they strut their stuff, celebrating their bravery and individuality.
They’ve bravely fought cancer, live with disability and have endured countless surgeries. Now they have the chance to celebrate all they have overcome, representing Supertee as they strut their stuff for Kidz Fashion Week on the Gold Coast.
Kidz Fashion Week enables children and teenagers of all sizes and cultures to showcase their individuality in a way that supports diversity and inclusion as they take to the stage.
This year’s event proudly features Supertee, a specially designed medical garment disguised as a superhero costume, which makes the lives of children in hospitals a little bit easier.
“These children spend so much of their lives in and out of hospital. It’s fantastic to see them full of confidence on the runway, being their best selves,’ Supertee founder Jason Sotiris says.
Jason was a tradie whose daughter Angela was diagnosed with cancer as a one-year-old. He noticed she’d become distressed when her clothes became tangled in the lines attached to her tiny body, and he knew there had to be an easier way.
“The idea for the Supertee came to me while comforting my daughter Angela, who was being treated for cancer called Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis. I felt helpless not being able to do the simple task of putting clean clothes on her with IV drips, chest monitor cables and central lines making it impossible,” Jason says.
Supertees on the runway at Kidz Fashion Week, Gold Coast
Kidz Fashion Week event organiser Terri Svoronos says she wants every child to feel seen, heard and celebrated. She was deeply moved by Jason’s commitment to empowering children through Supertee.
“This is where Kidz Fashion Week becomes more than just a runway event. It’s a platform to share the inspiring stories and accomplishments of young people who have spent so much of their lives in hospitals and to raise awareness about important issues.
“It means everything to me to see children of all abilities and medical conditions represented on the runway. I’ve been doing this for 30 years now, and I’ve seen firsthand how much it means to parents and children alike to have a platform where they can feel accepted and celebrated.
“So far, more than 25,000 Supertees have made their way into hospitals around Australia, giving already brave children additional courage, but our dream is to make one available to every child who needs one,” says Jason.
Supertee is appealing for donations to help reach its goal of donating 16,000 medical garments this year and relies on the generosity of individuals and businesses to make this possible. To donate, visit fundraise.supertee.org.au/donate
When and where to see these incredible kids on the runway at Kidz Fashion Week
When: 2pm Saturday 20 July
Where: The Island Glasshouse, 3128 Surfers Paradise Blvd
Don’t miss Supertee at Kidz Fashion Week Gold Coast, Saturday, 20 July 2024
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