Making Dreams Come True - Part 2
Making Dreams Come True – Part 2
Perth to Melbourne in 16 days
6th November 2026 to 21st November 2026
In 2016 and 2017, I faced a daunting battle with Leukaemia (AML). During that
challenging time, I was fortunate enough to have a wish granted by Make-A-Wish®
Australia, which brought immeasurable joy and hope into my life.
For a moment, I was able to escape the relentless cycle of treatments, hospital visits, and the emotional toll that illness brings. That experience reignited my dreams and allowed me to envision a future beyond my illness.
Now, I want to give back and raise funds for Make-A-Wish® Australia, an organisation that is incredibly close to my heart.
I have set myself a challenge – to ride a bike from Perth to
Melbourne in 16 days.
Why specifically 16 days?
Because I was diagnosed with AML at 16 and in 2026, I will be 16 years in
remission.
Making Dreams Come True - Part 1
Several organisations provide various forms of support for children with a critical illness and their families. Make-A-Wish® Australia were there for me and helped me cope with my illness by providing plenty of distractions. I feel eternally grateful for the help they gave me, and as a result, I wanted to give back to the organisation that made my time in the Royal Children's Hospital slightly more bearable. My aim now is to improve awareness and raise support for Make-A-Wish® Australia.
In June 2019, I set myself a challenge - to complete one of
Australia's biggest dirt bike races (the Finke Desert Race), as a way of
celebrating my 10th year in remission!
Throughout this journey I raised money for Make-A-Wish® Australia. After 10
years in remission, it was time to raise funds and give back to Make-A-Wish®
and show my appreciation as a former Wish Child, and become part of their Wish
Force, helping raise vital funds for the hundreds of Wish Kids they still help
to this day.
Thank you for visiting my Make-A-Wish® Australia fundraising page.
I experienced a healthy, happy childhood playing all the usual sports such as soccer, cricket, basketball and Aussie rules. In late June 2008, at the age of 16, I discovered several inflamed lumps on my lower legs. I began feeling lethargic and fatigued and couldn't attend school.
What was first thought to be glandular fever was eventually diagnosed as acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). I was now effectively fighting for my life in the Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne.
Over the following six months I endured five cycles of potent chemotherapy, with side effects such as infection, hair loss, nausea, weight loss & heart problems, along with the endless needles, blood tests, marrow biopsies & isolation. During this time, I was unable to return home.
This treatment, however, proved to be ineffective and in May 2009 - I relapsed.
To say it was devastating for myself and my family is an understatement. I not only had to endure the gruelling treatments again, but overcoming AML once already, and then relapsing meant my percentage of survival was dramatically reduced. Once again I began the long fight to save my life.
Unable to find a matching bone marrow donor, I underwent a stem cell transplant, which was considered rare at the time. I spent 85 days in a specialised isolation room only seeing the outside world through a window and having limited access to family and visitors.
In December 2009 I was finally allowed to go home; by 2010 I was considered in remission.
