“Very Proud”: Meet Olivia Street, the 7-Year-Old Little Telethon Star Living with Collagen VI Myopathy
Seven-year-old Olivia Street shines as a 2026 Little Telethon Star despite living with Collagen VI Myopathy and scoliosis. Her family shares her inspiring journey of courage, kindness, and hope.
EVENTS & WHAT’S ON
A Princess with Purpose
Meet Olivia Street - the people’s princess. She’s a girly-girl at heart, a makeup enthusiast, a Taylor Swift mega-fan, and now, a Little Telethon Star. While she may not be the loudest in the room, she certainly shines the brightest.
“Olivia’s world, we’re all just living in it,” says her mum, Janelle Street.
A Brave Face, A Big Heart
Like any princess, Olivia didn’t earn her tiara without challenges. At just seven years old, she’s endured more hard days than most could imagine - yet she continues to show up with a smile, a kind heart, and unwavering grace.
“Olivia had been diagnosed with a range of things from when she was born,” Janelle said. “Firstly, hip dysplasia. Then scoliosis a few months later and then finally at six months old, we got the confirmation that she had a genetic condition called collagen six related myopathy.”
Collagen VI related myopathy affects the connective tissue that supports muscles, making everyday actions like walking, standing, coughing, breathing, and chewing more difficult.
Defying Expectations
Doctors once believed Olivia may never walk again. But after countless hours of physiotherapy and hard work, she can now stand and walk short distances independently.
“Mobility-wise, she needs someone with her most of the time. Only recently, in the last two years, she’s been able to stand or even take a couple of steps independently,” Janelle said.
Olivia is primarily fed through a feeding tube and uses a BiPAP machine to breathe while asleep or unwell.
Living in the Moment
For Olivia, life isn’t about what she can’t do — it’s about squeezing every last drop of magic out of the days she has. That includes as many trips to Mecca with mum as possible.
“Olivia is a very bubbly and social little girl, she is one of those kids that people just can be attracted to and she’s a little bit magnetic,” Janelle said.
“She’s always putting on a little show or doing a makeup session for anyone who wants to be in her little makeup studio.”
But behind the glitz and glam, it’s Olivia’s kindness that truly shines.
“She’s a very kind and thoughtful person,” Janelle said. “She’s always making cards for her friends or teachers or if someone’s been unwell and I think that kindness will show as everyone gets to know her a little bit better.”
A Secret Finally Revealed
When Janelle discovered Olivia had been chosen as a Little Telethon Star, keeping the secret was no easy task.
“We’re very, very proud of her. I guess she had no idea, but we did so it was hard to contain the excitement for her, knowing that she would be very excited when she found out,” she said.
“It’s been really hard to keep it a secret and she’s been asking if we’ve heard and we’ve had to say no, we haven’t heard anything, maybe next year. So yeah, now I can finally tell her it’s a bit of a weight off our shoulders not having to keep the secret anymore.”
From Fan to Star
For years, Olivia has been a devoted Telethon supporter, proudly attending the weekend festivities at RAC Arena.
“Every year if we don’t go to the Telethon family festival we are in big trouble,” Janelle said.
But this year, Liv won’t just be a guest in the audience - she’ll be the star of the show, inspiring the very magic she’s spent years watching.
“I am looking forward to lots of things, I want to see Emma Memma because she is really happy all the time,” Liv said.
For a girl who loves pink and all things sparkly, a big stage is the perfect place for her royal debut.
“I think she will just love interacting with all of the people, she loves to make friends wherever she goes so I think she’ll just have a great time meeting everyone,” Janelle said.
“She also loves to get involved and help others, she has a kind heart and she’s always thinking of other people when they’re sick or not feeling well so I think the whole generosity aspect of it is something that she’s very happy to be involved with.”
A Poignant Reality
Behind the brave smiles of the Street family lies a reality that makes Olivia’s story all the more poignant. Her condition is degenerative, meaning that without a cure or effective treatment, the abilities she’s worked so hard to achieve may become more difficult over time.
It’s a reality no parent should have to contemplate for their child — and it makes every milestone, every achievement, and every step Liv takes all the more precious.
“Our wish for Olivia is that she can enjoy every single moment of the weekend but also of life,” Janelle said.
“We don’t know what it’s going to look like, there’s no real cure and her condition is such a spectrum disorder it’s hard to know what the next five or ten years are going to look like, so it’s so important she takes it day by day and enjoys every moment.”
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