Bunbury grandmother Cally Norris climbs Matagarup Bridge for charity HeartKids and two-year-old grandson Levi

On the surface, Bunbury toddler Levi Norris is a normal, happy kid. But Levi has had a rough start to his young life, and now displays a huge scar down his chest after having his heart operated on before he was one week old, and his second surgery before turning one. The two-year-old has six different heart conditions, and supported by national not-for-profit HeartKids, who said they were the only organisation in country solely focused on supporting and advocating for all people impacted by childhood heart disease. Levi’s father Cameron Norris said he did not know where his young family would be if it was not for the charity. “They have not just supported our son, but they have helped support our other kids as well, and even myself, my wife and his grandparents,” he said. “Even when anyone needs someone to talk to, or help with fuel money to get to appointments, they are always stepping and helping out.” Levi’s grandmother Cally Norris recently did her part to support the not-for-profit, climbing and zip-lining off Matagarup Bridge near Optus Stadium in Perth to bring awareness to the organisation — raising more than $1000 for the cause in the process. Ms Norris said she knew her grandson would need more operations, and that HeartKids would be there every step of the way. Mr Norris said he was proud of his mother — who isn’t a “big fan” of heights — for taking on the bridge climb. “It just means a lot for our whole family,” he said. “Mum alone raised $1200 for this cause, so for a foundation that doesn’t get a lot of funding that is a massive amount, and we are all so proud of her.” The young father said life could be difficult for his family, with even a common cold causing Levi to spend a week in a Perth hospital. “Our son is two years old, he was born in the middle of COVID, so that put another spanner in the works,” he said. “At any point in time you may have to dish the kids off to the grandparents, pack up the house and head to Perth for a week. “You have to think about going to events, if there is going to be sick people there, because then you don’t want to take him.”