When Indigo Marmont, 9, was in hospital this year she observed how some other children spend weeks at a time away from home.
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Realising how difficult that must be for seriously ill children she wanted to do something special to help.
With Christmas just around the corner Indigo decided to organise a toy collection at St Columbkille's Primary School and deliver the donations to the Sydney Children's Hospital.
"I want to help make sick kids smile and feel happy," she said.
With the help of teachers, families and generous people in the community dozens of brand-new toys, books and games were donated.
Indigo's parents Ryan and Chelsea Marmont checked with the hospital about what kinds of gifts children would be able to play with by their bedside.
Indigo knew COVID-19 restrictions meant most sick kids have been unable to leave their bedside or have visitors. She is going to Sydney to meet with Starlight captains on Friday and hand and over the gifts. They will then be wrapped and delivered to sick children for Christmas.
Mrs Marmont said Indigo was following in the footsteps of her father who throughout his motorcycle racing career spent many days at fundraising events with the Starlight Foundation, donating jerseys to auctions and visiting sick kids in hospital.
"She had the idea during COVID and raised it with us," Mr Marmont said.
"She wanted to make a difference and the school and Starlight Foundation jumped on board. It makes me so proud to see her come up with ideas like this and follow through with them. I think she is already planning something else."
Mrs Marmont said Indigo had a huge heart and received some good news on Wednesday. She will now be able to take the gifts directly to the Starlight Express Room which has just reopened after being closed for an extended period during COVID-19.
Mrs Marmont works with AUS-X Open on motorcycle races it holds that support the Starlight Express Room.
"It is a medical free haven at the hospital.where kids who are really sick can go. It is open from 10am to 4pm every day and has PlayStations and games," she said.
"It is funded by donations of money and gives the children an area to go where they don't have to worry about getting needles or anything like that. It is a really special room but this year with COVID it has been closed most of the year. Which means the kids have been pretty much bed bound. And they have had limited visitors."
Mrs Marmont said that was why Indigo was so eager to collect toys for sick children in hospital this Christmas.
"It is awesome seeing her do this. I love it. She is amazing."
Maria Disibio, of St Columbkille's Primary, said it was great to see Indigo living out the school's core values of faith and community in word and action.
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Greg Ellis
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
