Paralympian Ben Popham opens up on death of former little Telethon star Savanna Addis

Paralympic gold medallist Ben Popham has spoken out about his sadness at the death of Savanna Addis — his fellow 2011 little Telethon star.

Savanna was born with Alagille Syndrome, a genetic disorder affecting her liver and heart. She died in 2018 at the age of 17.

As one of the 2011 Telethon stars, the little girl raised $7500 for the Royal Flying Doctor Service — a service who saved her life after an accident in Kununurra in 2011.

Today, Mr Popham remembered his friend.

“It’s always hard,” he said.

“Me and Savanna had such a good connection throughout our 2011 adventure and beyond.

“I’ll always remember recording the ad they used to play before Telethon started. It was such a good day and she's such a trooper and such a great girl.

“Obviously it just reminds us that we have to take every day as it is... It was a special year.”

Mr Popham, who lives with diplegic cerebral palsy, rose to fame after he won two gold medals and a silver medal at the Tokyo Paralympic games in August.

Speaking to The West Australian this week, the 21-year-old expressed his gratitude to Telethon.

“I’m so happy that I was a Telethon kid. It’s a cool thing, isn’t it? It definitely helped me realise what I could do and gave me amazing opportunities both then and now,” he said.

“I know multiple Telethon kids and I’m regularly in touch with them and I see what they’ve done with their lives — it is just so special.”