Reichelt family gifted funds for young daughter’s life-saving cancer treatment from Darkan Hotel fundraiser

A young girl battling her second bout of cancer has been given funds for her life-saving treatment after her home town united in a massive fundraising effort last month.

Maia Reichelt, who just celebrated her ninth birthday, is lined up to undergo a bone marrow transplant for leukaemia at Perth Children’s Hospital. The marrow is donated by her older sister Makenzie.

The transplant is Maia’s last chance at survival after doctors discovered she was partially resistant to chemotherapy after 2½ years of treatment from 2023 to 2025.

It was revealed to the Reichelt family upon Maia’s relapse in February that the transplant was Maia’s final treatment option.

On March 28, about 200 people from the Wheatbelt, Great Southern and interstate, joined forces at the Darkan Hotel for an auction fundraiser dedicated to the Reichelt family.

The auction was held exactly three years after Maia was first diagnosed with leukaemia in March 2023.

Despite Maia, Makenzie, and their mother Ellalee Travis not being able to attend, her father Tim, and siblings Makaelah, Ollie, Eli and Tahlia were joined by Ms Travis’ family who travelled from New Zealand for the event.

Mr Reichelt said that the auction was “something really bloody special” when addressing the crowd.

“We’re totally gobsmacked,” he said.

“Things like this just make things so much easier for us — thanks for taking the pressure off.

“It’s great to see all your beautiful faces, I love being in this community, this place bloody rocks.”

From the 32 items on offer, the highest bid got to $2200 for a working kelpie puppy donated by Chippendale Kelpies and Contracting.

The Darkan Community Resource Centre morning tea for Maia fundraiser collected $927.50 on March 27, and the Darkan Bowling Club donated $500.

Auctioneers and bar staff modelled Mighty Maia the Brave shearing singlets, made by Bec McClure, with the sale proceeds also donated to the cause.

Auction organiser and Darkan Hotel manager Kirsty Putland said it was a successful night that “well and truly” surpassed her expectations.

“It was really heartwarming to see everyone come together from different areas — people did come from far and wide,” she said.

“More than anything else it’s about the community and community support that this family knows they have got.”

Darkan local Montana White, whose family is close with the Reichelts, raised more than $1200 by shaving her head at the auction for Maia.

Ms White said she wanted to show Maia that she was not alone.

“It’s not fair having to go through leukaemia twice, let alone once, so I wanted to join Maia with shaving my head,” she said.

She was joined by her friend Mitchell Garbutt who also shaved his head to support the cause.

Mr Reichelt said he could not be more grateful for the effort and love shown by Ms Putland and the broader community.

He said the town was Maia’s army and the support was critical to help his daughter win her cancer battle.

“Things are tough, but I know this little girl’s going to pull through it like she did the first time. She’s determined as ever,” Mr Reichelt said.

“The strongest little kid I’ve met in my life. She’s my idol to be honest.”