"We got to experience that whole side of life we never knew about. She lived for many months in hospital between Sydney and Canberra and neither of us could work most of that time," she said.

"But when your child's been given no time at all to live, you want to spend as much time as possible with them."

After seeing what her daughter went through, Suzanne founded local charity, Stella Bella Little Stars Foundation.

The Little Star Beads Program started with the intent to brighten the lives of seriously ill children by giving them a bead for specific medical procedures and milestones in their treatment, which then become a symbol of their courage.

To further help out the families involved, the Stella Bella Little Stars Foundation provides financial assistance when they need it most.

"We were lucky we were given a lot of family support but we met other people in other circumstances and they were struggling. When your child's in hospital you pretty much need to be there 24 hours a day," she said.

"One or both parents sometimes needs to give up work, and the bills are higher than usual with all the medical costs."

The foundation was given a boost on Friday with a cheque for $20,000 from Peter Blackshaw, which helps out people like Katie Morris and her family.

Four-year-old Katie was diagnosed with a rare genetic condition at six days old – there's only 14 cases in the world – and is constantly hooked up to pumps that keep her alive.

"She's been in hospital just under half her life. She's tube-fed and she basically survives on salt - her body spends its time dumping it and we then have to put it back in or she could go into cardiac arrest," said her mum Kira Morris.

Kira said the beads program gives Katie a chance to follow her own medical journey.

"You can pretty much look at her bead chain and say, 'well, she was well here and in hospital here'. It's important for kids to see how much better they are," she said.

Single mum Kira has also been helped out financially by the Stella Bella Little Stars Foundation when she moved house with Katie and older daughter Lilly.

"We moved into a new house that didn't have any curtains in it and I didn't have any money to put them in immediately, but without them we couldn't move in," she said.

"Katie has to be in a cool environment all the time – she can't sweat. The Stella Bella Foundation put up the money to put in the blinds for us to move into the house. That was a big deal for us."

Katie and her family also go along to the free Stella Bella quarterly events where the kids get to ride ponies and meet other children in similar situations.

"She's a smart kid – she's got a very, very kind personality. She never complains about being in hospital – she goes through more than I think I could deal with," said Kira.

You can find out more about the Stella Bella Little Stars Foundation and donate at stellabellalittlestars.org.au.

Dan Debuf, Bob Katter, Maz Compton and Michael Christian in front of Parliament House on Wednesday. Photo: Supplied

Dan Debuf and Maz Compton from The Dan and Maz Show, which is on the drive slot on 104.7, popped into Canberra this week as part of celebrations for Dan's 30^th birthday.

After finding out Dan had been to every state and territory in Australia bar the nation's capital, the team jumped into a car and drove down on Wednesday for a quick visit after their breakfast show in Sydney.

The duo visited Parliament House following Question Time, where they visited Julie Bishop's office and got a selfie with her, before having a picnic on the front lawns with Bob Katter.

Dan Debuf, Julie Bishop and Maz Compton. Photo: Supplied

"So we arrived and within minutes I was face-to-face with Julie Bishop, she's the most powerful woman in the country and we were in her office," Dan said.

"And I'm shouting at Bob Katter in the halls of Parliament House, and then I found out we were having a picnic with him. And there were visitors from New Zealand so they did the haka."

Bob Katter even gave him a magnet of Parliament House as an early birthday present.

While it was a brief visit, Dan said he was impressed by Canberra.

"Canberra's the most amazing place - it's so intense and amazing and wonderful."

"We wish we could've done more but it's a three-hour drive and a three-hour drive back. When you get up at 4am every morning to do your radio show, by 7.30 you're delusional."

Dan said he's already planning a trip back, and wants to indulge his inner science nerd at Questacon and visit a certain burger joint that Peking Duk tweeted him about, Brodburger.

Wishing you a very happy birthday, Dan.

March 22: Walk For Tara Raise funds for the three young children of Tara Costigan, who was killed in February at her home in Calwell. Starts at the base of Regatta Point on Lake Burley Griffin at 10.30am.

March 27: One Fine Day is a wedding fair with a difference. Chat to some of Canberra's best wedding vendors and enjoy a dinner under the stars at the National Gallery of Australia. Ticket includes canapes, drinks, three-course dinner, gift bag worth $100, live music and a fashion parade. 5.30pm-10.30pm. Gandel Hall at The National Gallery of Australia. Tickets $110 from onefinedayweddingfair.com.au.