Telethon feels the love across Australia as WA’s iconic fundraiser beamed to the East Coast for the first time

Now in its 59th year, WA’s iconic fundraising event kicked off in spectacular style, and for the first time, the rest of the country is seeing the magic of Telethon as it was beamed on Channel 7 across Australia.

And what an opening show it was, with pop powerhouse Jessica Mauboy and Human Nature co-founder Phil Burton setting the tone for the weekend, bursting onto the stage with a rendition of Australian classic Good Times.

Country singing star Morgan Evans made his Telethon debut and was met with rapturous applause from the packed RAC Arena as he performed during the opening act.

But the real VIPs are this year’s Little Telethon Stars, nine-year-old Aiden Narsico, seven-year-old Olivia Street and Paige McKay, eight.

And fittingly they were the first to take to the couch as the phone lines opened, regaling viewers with their action-packed few months as the Telethon stars.

It’s an ambitious target, but it got off to a flying start as Minderoo Foundation’s Nicola and Andrew Forrest pledged to match every donation made over a one-hour period.

Telethon has raised an astonishing $778 million for sick West Australian kids across the last six decades.

Last year alone, a record $90,160,275 was raised for life-changing medical research, vital health services and support for children living with illness, disability and disadvantage across WA.

Moments earlier, the pure joy that Telethon creates for its little Stars was evident on their faces as Aiden, Olivia and Paige danced to the opening act backstage.

Aiden launched into Fat Cat’s arms before dancing with the Telethon icon hand-in-hand, while Paige pulled her mum Amy McKay up from her chair and spun her around.

“It’s so much fun,” Paige said, listing meeting and having a photo alongside Emma Memma as her highlight so far.

Aiden was born prematurely at 31 weeks and almost died in his mum’s arms when he was just days old before spending the first 14 months of his life in hospital where doctors diagnosed him with congenital central hypoventilation syndrome.

Olivia lives with collagen VI-related myopathy, a rare genetic condition which impacts every muscle in her body, and Paige was diagnosed with a tumour in her brain stem when she was just five years old.

Opening the broadcast, Telethon host and 7NEWS Perth sports director Ryan Daniels described Telethon as the best weekend of the year. Weekend Sunrise host Sally Bowrey said: “We have one goal, that is to make this the best, the biggest Telethon of all.”