Mackenzie has Erythropoietic Protophotophyria, which means that she is allergic to sunlight and UV lighting. Sunlight and even the light emitted from regular light bulbs give Mackenzie blisters on her skin and cause severe internal liver damage. Variety paid to put special windows in Mackenzie’s house and purchased special clothing only available in Australia, which protects her from the light. Before Variety’s help Mackenzie could only go outside after the sun set. She could not even look outside the windows of her own house as the sunlight was too damaging, even through glass.
Last year, Variety sent Mackenzie to Camp Sundown, a unique medical camp in New York for kids just like Mackenzie.
Mackenzie, her twin brother Dawson and their parents are active fundraisers for the Kids Coin Drive for Variety in their town of Sidney.
