MAKENZIE HEWITT was just nine when she told her parents she was going to raise money to help people with cancer.

The North Fremantle youngster was inspired by her 56-year-old grandfather’s death from a melanoma – even though that was years before she was born.

“It impacted on my mum who was 18 years old … it’s had a big impact on our whole family,” Mackenzie says.

Her parents made the right noises, but it took two weeks of haranguing from Mackenzie to get the ball rolling.

“I said ‘this is what I’m doing’ and started calling people,” she says.

• Makenzie Hewitt with a photograph of her grandfather, who died from skin cancer. Photo supplied

Family and friends helped her organise her first sausage sizzle in 2011 at the North Fremantle Bowling Club, called See the Sunset for Sick Ones, and it’s gone on to became a yearly event and raise more than $15,000. The Iona student won a Mosman Park Rotary Citizens Award in 2013, and a Sunrise Suburban Superstar Award for WA in 2016, netting her $7000.

Mackenize says she will use the money to hold a charity ball at the Crown Casino.

The deposit on the ball room has been paid, but the 17-year-old is looking for sponsors and people to donate goods for silent and live auctions, “and any other assistance they can offer.”

All money raised from the ball will go to the Australian Cancer Research Foundation.

To donate to her campaign email makenziehewitt1@gmail.com

by JENNY D’ANGER