Made by Cool Marie: The arts and craft charity raising money for Sydney Children’s Hospital Randwick

What started as a desire to give back to the hospital that saved Marie Tesoriero when she was a child has evolved into a thriving charity reaching donors across the globe.

Marie Tesoriero at her stall at Westfield Eastgardens. Picture: supplied

When Marie Tesoriero was a young child, she had three serious surgeries as doctors tried to diagnose her disabilities.

Her mother, Tina, said “professors didn’t have much hope” that she would be able to live independently.

“They would never envisaged the level that Marie would be at,” Ms Tesoriero said.

“My husband and I, naturally, are over the moon with her and what she’s achieved.”

The first surgery was to correct a spinal issue, another was to address bilateral bladder reflex and the third was critical neurosurgery. By the end of the three lifesaving procedures, doctors were still scratching their heads about the disabilities Tesoriero had.

“It was tough because there was no support group as we didn’t know what Marie had,” Ms Tesoriero said.

“The doctors didn’t think she’s made much progress. They were very wrong.”

One look at the array of toys the now-42-year-old has made to raise money for Sydney Children’s Hospital in Randwick cements that view.

During the 2021 Covid lockdown, Marie created her social enterprise, Made by Cool Marie, which sells arts and craft around Sydney and has raised thousands of dollars for sick children.

Marie’s workshop in the Christmas Cave making gifts to sell for the Sydney Children’s Hospital. Picture: supplied

Ms Tesoriero said her daughter had always been grateful to the hospital for saving her life when she was a child, and instead of being scared of it like most children, she would say: “that’s the place that made me better”.

The urge to give back to the hospital never left Marie, who also developed a love for arts and craft, and so she decided to combine the two and open a store in the hospital.

One of her handcrafted toys, the Boo Boo Bunny, is made from face washers with an ice cube inside to help south children with minor injuries.

Recently, she introduced Jimmy Chew the Rescue Dog, educating children about the rescue industry.

Before long, Made By Cool Marie took off, and Marie was selling her gifts at several shopping centres and events.

Her charity has even gone global, with friends in Europe donating money for materials.

Marie prepares for her Christmas store. Picture: supplied

Asked how much time Marie spends making her crafts, she said “all day long”.

“Seeing the kiddies get better make makes me very happy.”

But Marie’s charitable work doesn’t stop there.

Recently the Coogee woman raised $3,000 for Parkinson’s research through a 12 kilometre fundraiser walk.

And she volunteers with Meals on Wheels twice a week, handing out food to those in need.

Ms Tesoriero said she couldn’t be prouder of her daughter.

“Seeing how much she does for others is amazing,” she said.