Kidney transplant would turn sick Maddie Collins into a 'normal kid'

A fundraising campaign to raise the $350,000 needed to get the 12-year-old to the United States so she can have a kidney transplant is in full swing. Photo / Sarah Collins YouTube

Maddie Collins dreams of going to sleepovers with her friends, riding her pony and swimming without feeling sick.

But having to be hooked up to a dialysis machine for 12 hours every night makes those simple tasks difficult.

However, that could be about to change.

In 2012, her father Adam Collins donated his kidney to Maddie Collins. However, after five hours her body rejected it. Photo / Sarah Collins YouTube

A fundraising campaign to raise the $350,000 needed to get the 12-year-old to the United States so she can have a kidney transplant is in full swing.

More than $25,000 has been raised through a Givealittle page, and events - including a national mufti-day on September 16 - are still to come.

The St Margaret's College student was diagnosed with kidney failure when she was five.

In 2012, her father Adam Collins donated his kidney to Maddie. However, after five hours her body rejected it.

Now the chances of her getting a transplant in New Zealand are slim because she may not meet the criteria because her disease is so aggressive.

She wanted to get a transplant so she could be a "normal kid".

"I can't go swimming with my catheter, and I would like to go to sleepovers and ride (ponies) without feeling sick and not have to go to hospital."

St Margaret's is selling wrist bands in yellow and pink - Maddie's favourite colours - to help raise money.

The school is also planning a coin trail and a mufti-day.

One of its students, Charli Francis, has organised a ball at her Darfield home on September 3.

Head of middle school Kathryn Gray said they wanted to do anything they could to help.

"When you look at this beautiful little girl and you see how her life is so affected by this terrible disease, you would all change places with her if you could. And instead, the only thing we can do is put money out there to give her as much of a chance as we can to get her to America."

She said in spite of Maddie's health issues, she always had a smile on her face and gave everything 100 per cent.

To donate money towards Maddie's journey, visit her Givealitte page.