Make-A-Wish Australia grants Mali Bennett her dream of travelling Australia

A girl with cystic fibrosis and a love for wildlife has been granted her wish to swim with turtles on the Great Barrier Reef. Watch her tell her story.

A 10-YEAR-OLD girl with cystic fibrosis and a love for wildlife has had her dream come true swimming with the turtles on the Great Barrier Reef.

Make-A-Wish Australia has granted Mali Bennett from Melbourne her wish of travelling Australia in a campervan.

She was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at just seven months and since then she has had daily physiotherapy.

10-year-old animal lover Mali Bennett is on a trip of a lifetime with her family. Picture: Brendan Radke

Her mother Davina Bennett said her daughter will be travelling around Australia for another four weeks after already doing half the trip.

“What Mali really wanted to do was travel Australia, she loves animals, being outside and camping and indigenous culture,” Ms Bennett said.

“It’s very emotional seeing her dreams fulfilled. Yesterday with the turtles she burst into tears on the reef. I just think we are going to remember this forever.”

“This has been an inspiration for her, we’ve had very little complaints, she’s up and out the door.

10 year old animal lover Mali Bennett, pictured with her sister Poppy, 7, and parents Davina and Len Bennett, are on a trip of a lifetime, spending 2 months travelling Australia in a campervan. Her dream of visiting the Great Barrier Reef and swimming with turtles was granted this week by the Make a Wish Foundation. Picture: Brendan Radke

Mali has enjoyed every bit of her trip so far, from the Northern Territory to Cairns but a favourite was the Great Barrier Reef.

“It was amazing, there was a big water slide on the boat and the biggest fish I’ve ever seen,” Mali said.

“The turtle was my favourite.”

Mali said she loved lizards, frogs and snakes.

10 year old animal lover Mali Bennett and her sister Poppy, 7. Picture: Brendan Radke

While the constant day-to-day life can be a struggle, Ms Bennett said the trip has been great for her two daughters.

“My husband and I don’t want to shield the girls from the reality of cystic fibrosis … but at the same time, we want them both to live life to the absolute fullest,” she said.

Originally published as Make-A-Wish Australia grants Mali Bennett her dream of travelling Australia