The telethon officially kicked off with a sensational first panel hosted by Basil Zempilas, courtesy of the RAC Arena stage.
Sunrise presenters Natalie Barr and Matt “Shirvo” Shirvington, Home and Away’s Lynne McGranger and Dr Chris Brown were the first group of the night, with plenty of other celebrities in line ready for rotation.
Returning to his second telethon with nothing but great words to say, Shirvo told the panelists that the annual fundraiser “makes your heart melt.”
The former Olympian has co-hosted Channel 7’s flagship breakfast program with Bunbury-born Barr since June.
Zempilas jokingly reached out to Home and Away star McGranger to ask if it was “too early” to ask Barr if she preferred her new co-host to her old one.
“He’s in the back,” Barr joked, referring to her former co-host David “Kochie” Koch.
McGranger then chimed in to talk about her visit to Perth Children’s Hospital earlier on Saturday.
“I’m going to try to get through this without getting emotional,” she said before increasing the count with the donations she received.
Dr Chris Brown, who is participating in his first telethon, also visited the hospital on Saturday and told the crowd at the RAC Arena that the telethon was “incredibly special” and “has a wonderful reputation” in the east.
“This is truly a wonderful event,” he said.
Shirvo jokingly added that Dr. Chris Brown used his veterinary skills to give Fat Cat a veterinary exam, causing the crowd to burst into fits of laughter.
To donate, call 1300 737 507 or visit telethon7.com/donate.