Now, Kelly has successfully set up Charlie’s Rainbow, and currently is staging a number of unique fundraising initiatives, including an upcoming fitness challenge – the Charlie's Rainbow Move and Star Jump Challenge – to raise money for AML research.

When the two women came together, they pledged that every single cent raised would be invested in AML research at the University of South Australia.

 

UniSA Researcher Professor Richard D'Andrea with Kelly Stevens

 

Helen intimately understands the power of someone believing in you and seeing your potential which can support or even drive you to greater things.

Growing up in a lower socio-economic area, Helen left school after year 10 as she says there was no imperative to stay. At the time she didn’t have the tools or mentors to support a different outcome.

After years in the workforce, Helen was searching for a new start and began an MBA at UniSA. Here, a senior lecturer provided a breakthrough moment in Helen’s life when she least expected, and most probably really needed it.

“I was delivering a presentation which was well received by my fellow students, the lecturer understood me and knew it was a good presentation, but he also knew it could have been better. He knew I was ‘coasting’, and he challenged me,” she says.

Long before Simon Sinek, the lecturer sat back and asked Helen, ‘Why? I need you to think more differently about the why. You're capable of more, you're just not thinking deeply enough.’ From this moment, she really understood the value of authentic mentoring.

As in Helen’s case, taking the opportunity to mentor a student or inexperienced professional can really make such a positive difference to their study, careers and personal lives. “My lecturer took the time to help me grow, to dive deeper, and not accept the status quo – all gifts which cannot be bought and can only be given,” she says.

“It was a moment of truth – he called me out while clearly believing I could achieve more,” Helen says. “It is so important that we invest in each other and encourage each other. Being mentored is a gift.”

Helen’s MBA at UniSA provided her with many personal and professional gifts, not the least of which has defined her career leading a number of major not-for-profit organisations as CEO and giving her the opportunity to give back to the community and the people in it.

Now it is Helen’s turn to support Kelly and her family with fundraising initiative Charlie’s Rainbow, after they lost their three-year-old son, Charlie, to Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) in January 2021.

Kelly’s research skills identified that UniSA’s Head of Acute Leukaemia Laboratory Professor Richard D’Andrea was the person to spearhead this important AML Research and that Charlie’s Rainbow would back him all the way with 100% of funds raised going to this research.

“I met Kel at the peak of her professional learning, and her professionalism and skill as a hairdresser is second to none. Over the years she has also become a friend,” Helen says. “All these efforts are in honour of her son Charlie, and his inspiring spirit, after losing his battle with childhood cancer just over a year ago.”

For Helen, it all comes back to the ‘Why?’ again.

“It is 2022 – why do we not have a cure for children’s AML yet? Why are Mums and Dads and families losing their sons, daughters, brothers and sisters, to this wicked disease,” she says. “It’s time for all of us to come together and ask ‘Why?’ and get behind this research and save these little lives. There could be no better gift in life than to do that and I want to be part of it.”

“Every time I ask ‘Why?’ I think of UniSA and my lecturer. It’s time to stop. It’s time to fundraise. It’s time to support a cure through the UniSA research team who have been such a strong caring support to Kel and her family on this journey to a cure.”

“The way to support AML research at UniSA is here… Let’s use the power of us to end AML.”