The Mito Foundation is fortunate to work with wonderful individuals who go the extra mile to support people with mito. Each year we recognise some of the everyday heroes whose efforts have significantly impacted the mito community.
Congratulations to:
For 8 years, Michelle has brought family, friends and colleagues together as Team Hayden and Jacob at The Bloody Long Walk.
Michelle founded the team in memory of her sons, Hayden and Jacob, who both lived with Leigh syndrome. By sharing their stories and inviting others to walk alongside her, Michelle has created a caring community while raising over $25,000 for the mito cause.
What makes Michelle special:
"Michelle dedicates a lot of her time giving back to this foundation to raise funds to help people affected by mito. She is a pillar of strength, who often talks about her boys. She creates a community and often invites others to join her to support this cause."
Leigh, Laura and Tyler Caulfield make an extraordinary contribution to the mito community through advocacy, fundraising and support for others.
Leigh and Laura have made The Bloody Long Walk a family tradition, taking part in events across Australia and raising thousands of dollars. Leigh also volunteers through the Mito Community Advisory Panel. Tyler continues to pursue his love of art and embrace new experiences while living with mito, Type 1 diabetes and significant vision loss.
What makes the Caulfields special:
"The Caulfield family is an extraordinary example of resilience, generosity, and community spirit. Even while facing the daily realities of mitochondrial disease, they continue to make a lasting difference to the lives of others."
Kevin is driven by hope and a relentless determination to change the future of mitochondrial disease (mito). With generations of his family impacted by mito including his son who lives with MERRF, he has set an extraordinary goal: to raise $1 million for the Mito Foundation. These funds are already fuelling the search for treatments and, one day, a cure. Through his network, Kevin’s campaign has raised more than $240,000, a testament to his vision and the generosity of supporters.
Now, he is focused on the next stages: supporting brilliant early-career scientists through the Emerging Scientist Fund and working to expand access to clinical trials in Australia. His campaign is not just about breaking the cycle of mito in his own family. It’s about changing outcomes for the entire community.
What makes Kevin special:
"Kevin is truly inspirational...His continued enthusiasm and willingness to reach out to his connections has been invaluable."
Vishma has generously shared her experiences, raised awareness and created opportunities for connection through her podcast and book club.
Through Mito Stories, fundraising campaigns and community activities, Vishma helps others feel informed and supported. She has also represented the mito community at the Neurological Alliance Australia Summit, bringing lived experience into an important national conversation.
What makes Vishma special:
“Vishma demonstrates how powerful individual advocacy can be.”
Louise and David are dedicated supporters of the mito community. By generously sharing their son Kye’s story, Louise and David help more people understand mito and its impact on families.
Each year, they bring together family and friends for The Bloody Long Walk Brisbane and inspire others to fundraise. They also volunteer at The Bloody Long Walk Sunshine Coast, encouraging participants throughout the day.
What makes Louise and David special:
“Louise and David are incredible supporters in so many ways.”
Professor David Mackey has generously shared his clinical expertise to strengthen Mito Foundation resources. His thoughtful feedback has helped ensure the information we provide is accurate, clear and useful.
Professor Mackey recently helped Mito Foundation respond to a community member facing complex questions about their diagnosis and possible treatment options. Although he was not involved in their care, he shared guidance, relevant information and connections to local professionals who could assist.
What makes David special:
"His generosity, expertise and commitment to improving support for people impacted by mito are deeply valued. His contribution reflects the very best of the clinical community working in the mito sector."
Fabienne is a Neurogenetics Clinic and Research Nurse with Dr Kate Ahmad's clinic at the Royal North Shore Hospital. She consistently shows a generous willingness to help people in the mito community.
Working alongside Mito Foundation, Fabienne helps community members access the support they need.
What makes Fabienne special:
"She is approachable, reliable and generous with her time."
Janette is a metabolic nurse who provides thoughtful clinical and personal support to patients and their families.
She makes reassuring phone calls, offers comfort during difficult days and finds personal ways to show people she cares. Janette has also supported the mito movement by taking on The Bloody Long Walk.
What makes Janette special:
"She goes above and beyond for our patients and their families. She is the unsung hero of our team."
Dr Kate Ahmad is a clinical neurologist at Royal North Shore Hospital. She provides compassionate specialist care to people living with complex mitochondrial eye conditions.
Kate works collaboratively with the Mito Foundation to improve outcomes for the mito community. Her support helps people access services that meet their individual needs.
What makes Kate special:
"Kate provides exceptional specialist care and is highly responsive."
Dr Kishore Raj Kumar, a neurologist and clinician-scientist, recognised the importance of coordinated care for a community member with complex needs.
He prioritised timely communication, helped ensure concerns were addressed and provided the clinical guidance and documentation needed. His care helped others understand the person’s individual circumstances and respond appropriately.
What makes Kishore special:
"Kishore went above and beyond to provide expert clinical guidance.”
Maina is a consultant paediatric neurologist at Perth Children’s Hospital and a dedicated advocate for children living with mitochondrial disorders.
Maina also operates neurometabolic clinics, a neuromuscular clinic, private practice, and still finds time for lecturing.
She brings compassion and a person-centred approach to her clinical work. Maina also takes part in The Bloody Long Walk each year, raising funds and showing her support for the wider mito community.
What makes Maina special:
“She is a compassionate caring person who puts the patient at the centre of everything she does.”
Dr Serge Geara is a neurologist and mitochondrial disease fellow with Professor Carolyn Sue at Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA.)
Serge shown a strong commitment to supporting and understanding the mito community. He presented on emerging therapies and clinical trials for mito at the 2025 Mito Community Summit.
Through his ongoing community involvement, advocacy and awareness raising, he generously shares his time and knowledge to help others.
What makes Serge special:
“The keen determination he has to not only be involved but also help, understand, and share his knowledge.”
Stephanie is a speech pathologist who combines clinical knowledge with compassion and respect.
She takes time to understand each person’s needs, goals and experiences. Stephanie has helped identify services, strategies and assistive technology that support independence. She has also expanded her knowledge of mitochondrial disease so she can provide informed, individualised care.
What makes Stephanie special:
“She has always seen me as a person first, not just a diagnosis.”
For more than 40 years, Avalon Quilters has brought together a close-knit group of women through friendship, creativity and community service.
Inspired by their connection to a local family, the group has supported Mito Foundation through exhibitions, market stalls and fundraising over many years. Their care has also extended to creating handmade quilts for children in the mito community.
What makes Avalon Quilters special:
"Their contribution reflects sustained commitment, generosity and genuine community spirit.”
Mia has been a valued member of Mito Foundation’s Community Advisory Panel for many years, sharing her experience, expertise and insights to strengthen our work.
Mia brings a thoughtful and considered voice to everything she contributes to. She is willing to challenge our thinking, ask important questions and help ensure the perspectives of people living with mito are reflected in our work. Most recently, her insights have helped shape how community members can be meaningfully involved in research and research design.
What makes Mia special:
“Mia shares her experience generously, she asks the questions that make us think differently and helps shape better outcomes for the mito community.”
Diane continues to make a meaningful contribution through Mito Wellbeing Calls and her commitment to building local connections.
She brings calm, care and quiet leadership to the spaces she supports. Diane helps people feel heard, included and less alone, without pressure to share more than they are ready to.
In 2026, she became Co-Chair of the Mito Community Advisory Panel, generously sharing her time and lived experience to help strengthen Mito Foundation’s work.
What makes Diane special:
"Through trust, warmth and genuine care, Diane helps strengthen the mito community from the inside."
Kim is a dedicated advocate, fundraiser, volunteer and community leader. Since receiving her diagnosis in 2018, she has generously shared her experiences and encouraged others affected by mito.
Kim has taken part in many Bloody Long Walks and other Mito Foundation initiatives. She also joined the Mito Community Advisory Panel in 2021 and served as Co-Chair from 2024 to 2026, helping ensure community experiences informed the Foundation’s work.
Kim’s warmth, honesty and encouragement help others feel welcome, supported and less alone.
What makes Kim special:
"She brings warmth, encouragement, positivity, and a genuine sense of community wherever she goes.”
Bec makes a meaningful contribution to the mito community while living with mito herself. Through Girl With a Green Bow, she raises awareness and creates opportunities for people to connect.
Bec also supports The Bloody Long Walk, including organising her team’s shirts and cheering participants across the finish line with her family. In 2026, she became Co-Chair of the Mito Community Advisory Panel, generously sharing her time and lived experience to help strengthen Mito Foundation’s work.
What makes Bec special:
"Bec is one of those people who quietly makes an enormous difference. She leads with compassion, generosity and kindness.”
Haydn played a significant role in establishing the Mito Community Advisory Panel (MCAP) and served as its inaugural Chair.
He brought valuable commercial skills to the panel’s early development, helping establish clear goals, reporting and accountability to the community. Across 10 years of service, Haydn has generously contributed his time while balancing work and family commitments.
What makes Haydn special:
"Haydn’s commitment in those early years was critical to taking the MCAP from a tentative group with good intentions, to a functioning, mature committee.”
Alison is an Assistant Principal at Berwick College, the school attended by student Tyler Caulfield who lives with mito. Working alongside Tyler and his family, Alison has helped build a school culture where staff support mito awareness and fundraising.
She has taken part in several Bloody Long Walks, contributed personally and encouraged a wider group of educators to get behind the cause. Alison also works to support Tyler’s learning, health and wellbeing so he can get the most from his school experience.
What makes Alison special:
"Alison does everything she can to support Tyler both academically and from a health and wellbeing perspective.”
Pradeep is a steady source of strength and support for his partner, Vishma, and the wider mito community.
Through his participation in community activities and The Bloody Long Walk, Pradeep quietly raises awareness and encourages others to support the cause. His determination reflects a deep commitment to finding better outcomes for people affected by mito.
What makes Pradeep special:
“This man will walk as many 35km walks as it takes to raise awareness.”
Dr Thomas Hockings has provided dedicated care to a family throughout their mito journey.
He helped the child and his family move quickly towards answers and continues to make time for them when support is needed. His care extends to the wider family, including supporting them through the emotional impact of navigating mito.
What makes Thomas special:
“Dr Thomas has provided outstanding care as our general practitioner during our mito journey.”
Jo cared for a child from birth, supporting him through hospital stays, his mito diagnosis and the progression of his condition. She made sure his short life was filled with love, care and security.
After Llukah died before his second birthday, Jo brought a team together for The Bloody Long Walk. She has now completed the event 3 times, raising funds and supporting other families affected by mito.
What makes Jo special:
“She truly is a special person and a strong advocate for the Mito Foundation. There’s no telling Jo she can’t do something which will help support other families going through what she did."
The Hawkins family has generously shared their experience of family life and navigating mito to raise awareness and support for the mito community. As the faces of this year’s Tax Appeal, Megan, Cameron and their daughter Audrey inspired donors to contribute nearly $50,000. Despite the daily challenges of mito, they bring positivity and determination to creating a brilliant life for Audrey while supporting Mito Foundation.
What makes the Hawkins Family special:
“The Hawkins family’s generosity in sharing their story, and their positivity and commitment to the mito community, is truly inspiring.”
Noah and Kat bring warmth, honesty and infectious enthusiasm to The Bloody Long Walk and the wider mito community.
A long-standing Bloody Long Walk ambassador, Noah proudly leads Noah’s Ninjas and inspires others to walk, fundraise and get behind the mito cause. Noah and Kat generously share the realities of living with mito, helping people better understand its impact.
Together, Noah and Kat’s efforts bring hope, connection, and energy to the mito community, showing what is possible when commitment meets compassion.
What makes Noah and Kat special:
“Noah and Kat’s unwavering support, inspirational attitude, and openness in sharing the reality of mito inspire awareness, education, and action.”
Alfie became seriously unwell at 2 years old and experienced several hospital admissions. He had to relearn how to walk and talk and now uses a mobility walker, ankle-foot orthoses and, when needed, a wheelchair.
Since starting Prep in January 2026, Alfie has made encouraging progress in his communication and participation with his classmates. He approaches school, sport and new experiences with enthusiasm and determination.
What makes Alfie special:
"Alfie is the most loving, positive and dedicated child I have known.”
Andrew made a valued contribution to the rare and progressive disability support resources by sharing his experience as Melissa’s husband and carer.
His open and thoughtful contribution helped deepen understanding of the carer experience, changing support needs and the strength of the relationship between a person living with mito and those who provide care.
What makes Andrew special:
“Andrew’s insight helped shape resources that better reflect the shared experience of people living with mito and those who support them.”
Matthew has made a valued contribution by hosting Mito Meet-ups and supporting regular peer connection.
By generously giving his time, Matthew helps people affected by mito come together, share experiences and build informal support. His involvement helps reduce isolation and keeps meaningful community connections available.
What makes Matthew special:
“His contribution is always practical, steady and community-focused.”
Melissa made a meaningful contribution to the rare and progressive disability support resources by openly sharing her experience of living with mito and navigating disability systems.
She helped build understanding of progressive disease, changing support needs and the barriers people can face.
What makes Melissa special:
“Melissa’s insight shaped the final resources in a meaningful way, helping ensure they are practical, respectful and grounded in lived experience.”
Shelley plays a key role in connecting and supporting the mito community through her support of Mito Wellbeing Calls and Mito Meet-ups.
She brings warmth, skill and steadiness to each space she holds. Shelley fosters a strong sense of belonging and encourages participation from all members of the community.
What makes Shelley special:
“Shelley helps people connect in ways that feel respectful, grounded and supportive.”
For several decades, Donna has provided trusted peer support to Australian families affected by Barth syndrome. She shares knowledge, connects people and works with the Barth Syndrome Foundation to help families find community and support.
Donna has also helped Mito Foundation better understand the experiences of Australians living with this rare type of mito. Her support has created opportunities for these experiences to be represented through the Mito Stories Project.
What makes Donna special:
“Donna’s sustained commitment, generosity and community leadership have made a meaningful difference to families affected by this rare type of mito.”
Kim has been a familiar and encouraging presence at The Bloody Long Walk for many years. She volunteers at both the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane events, giving her time to help make each event a success.
She is always bright, bubbly and full of encouragement, cheering participants on from the sidelines and helping create a welcoming, positive atmosphere. The memories she helps create and her ongoing willingness to support others make her a valued part of the Bloody Long Walk and mito communities.
What makes Kim special:
“Volunteers like Kim are the heart of these events, and I believe she is truly deserving of this recognition.”
Dr Megan Ball has been awarded for the publication, ‘Mainstreaming genomic testing for mitochondrial disease in Australia’. Working with experienced mitochondrial researchers at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Megan completed her PhD through the mitoMDT project, a national initiative combining genetic testing and protein analysis to improve diagnosis rates for mitochondrial disease.
Her research examined how new Medicare-funded genomic testing for mitochondrial disease was being used across Australia. Megan explored diagnosis rates for adults and children, including how often testing identified another genetic condition. She also looked at where testing was requested and whether access varied by location or socioeconomic circumstances. This research provides valuable insights into how genomic testing can be implemented fairly and effectively across Australia.
Megan recently published perhaps the most extensive and up-to-date review of emerging mitochondrial therapies, and a joint first author paper showing how rapid protein analysis can help confirm a diagnosis and inform reproductive options. She has now returned to Adelaide to continue her research career.
