The words ‘you have cancer’ are particularly devastating and a huge shock if you are a teenager or young adult just starting to truly embrace life’s new freedoms and responsibilities. Equally, when a parent is told their child has cancer, it is often described as their greatest fear realised. Overnight, family life is turned upside down, and sadly every day across Australia at least four families hear these words. From that moment on, their lives are forever changed.
Right now, there are more than 11,000 children and young people up to the age of 24 years somewhere on their cancer journey in Australia, a journey that can last for years. They need our help. At Redkite, we are determined to be there for them for as long as it takes—to walk alongside these incredible young people and their families with essential care and support from when they’re diagnosed, through treatment, and on return home no matter where they live.
Right now there are over 11,000 children and young people up to the age of 24 years somewhere on their cancer journey in Australia, a journey that can last for years. They need our help.
‘For as long as it takes’ can mean several years. In Kim’s case, her son Colby spent 505 consecutive days in hospital when diagnosed with leukaemia. After this marathon period of being at Colby’s bedside day and night, Kim was so grateful to be taking her brave son home. While it wasn’t the end of a long journey to recovery, it was a positive leap in the right direction.
These determined young patients, their siblings, and parents deserve the best of care; they endure so much together. In my 18 years with Redkite, I’ve witnessed and been inspired by the best of the human spirit and the generosity of Australians when it comes to helping others. Few of us haven’t been impacted by cancer, and we are particularly affected when it is a baby, a child, or a young person. Over the past decade, I have been encouraged by the increased engagement of corporate Australia. Business leaders are encouraging skilled volunteering and creative team fundraising, plus more are now realising the tangible benefits of strategic partnerships.
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