Thanks to the help of the Kiwani club the toddler now owns her specialised walker outright. 

“It's such a wonderful feeling knowing Lexie's walker is hers and that no money is owed on her walker,” she said.

“We are blown away with how generous Kiwani's was to our family they are such a lovely group of fellas and we are so very thankful to them.”

Lexie took her first steps thanks to the support of the Bendigo community.

Two-year-old Lexie Eveleigh’s mother Kerrie shared her daughter’s story on Facebook noticeboard page, The Shed, and the response was overwhelming.

Diagnosed with 1P36.33 micro-deletion syndrome and 16P13.3 micro-duplication syndrome at eight-weeks-old, Lexie became accustomed to shuffling around on her back.

“Lexie is doing fantastically,” Mrs Eveleigh said.

“She is enjoying being able to walk and she's getting so much stronger now.

“Her physiotherapist Rachael is blown away with her progress this past month.

“Lexie's favourite outings are walking the playgrounds and walking in to the supermarket for a strawberry milkshake.”

Lexie is the only reported person to have the specific combination of syndromes.

Mrs Eveleigh said that made it hard to learn how to cope with it.

“We are really just taking it one day at a time,” Mrs Eveleigh said. “We don’t see her as having a disability.”

Last year Kerrie and her husband Daniel, felt Lexie was getting stronger in her legs and needed some help to hold her up.

After looking into grants for the right equipment, Mrs Eveleigh turned to DO Ability, a paediatric equipment specialist. 

The company offered her a rent-to-buy deal on a specialised walking frame, which they were able to afford the deposit for following the Facebook post. 

Now, Lexie has a “completely different perspective on life.”

“I found that government funded agencies could take 12 months or longer to get the right equipment,’ Mrs Eveleigh said.

“We had just moved from NSW and were strapped for cash, so even the 50 per cent deposit was a lot.

“I made a funding account and told our story to the lovely community of The Shed and the donations and support was overwhelming.”

Mrs Eveleigh said her family was grateful for the contributions of The Shed Facebook group, along with friends and family who had also helped raise the funds.

She said Lexie, who will be a big sister later this year, was a very strong little person. “She is determined and very happy.”