But as he stepped out of his yellow convertible, with a big smile across his face, the Menai youngster warmed to the tall man in the red suit.

Santa's visit to her house was organised by the Menai Mongrels, a small sporting group which donated $5000 this week to the Clingan family to enable them to travel to the US to learn more about their daughter's rare form of dwarfism.

Jasmine, 3, is the only known person in Australia with Mulibrey nanism.

There are just 113 people in the world with the genetic condition, which affects the growth of the liver, eyes and brain. Her parents Kim and Wayne had been raising money to go to Chicago in July to attend a convention for children with growth disorders.

They hoped that by going to the US and raising money for future treatment, their daughter's quality of life could be maintained.

After reading Jasmine's story in the Leader the Menai Mongrels, a group of 28 male friends who raise money for children's charities through sport, decided to donate their years' fundraising to the family.

The Mongrels were formed by rugby league legend Steve Mortimer, of Illawong, 20 years ago and has raised money for special schools such as Miverva and Bates Drive.

President Mark Henry, of Alfords Point, said there was something about Jasmine's story that touched their hearts.

Mrs Clingan's voice trembled as she spoke of the donation, describing it as "the best Christmas present we could have ever hoped for".

"It's made us feel that we aren't alone in all of this, that Jasmine isn't alone," she said.

Jasmine was diagnosed with genetic disorder when she was two after developing stage four Wilms tumour, a cancer.

She weighs only eight kilograms and will never be able to have children. The life expectancy for people with the condition varies.