The Child Cancer Foundation has revealed it is being referred 20% more families with a child fighting cancer than they were a year ago.
The worrying statistic means they’re desperate for donations.
Child Cancer Foundation chief executive Monica Briggs told 1News the spike in demand was due to relapses, longer treatment windows and new diagnoses.
She said: “The 20% surge to our service means that’s putting pressure on our resources at a time when families need us.
“As soon as they’re referred to us, our staff go in and really wrap care around that family and that child for the whole duration of their treatment, which can be months and years long.”
In total, the foundation is helping 180 new families.
The spike in demand has led to one of their patients, 6-year-old Grace Quinlan, stepping up to help raise awareness and funds for the work the foundation does.
Grace has waged a brave battle with B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia for the past 18 months. She is now in the maintenance phase of treatment and looking forward to finishing in December in time for Christmas.
As part of her advocacy, Grace’s family helped organise a parade for Wig Wednesday – a national fundraising event for the foundation.
Grace, wearing her beads of courage with immense pride, held her teacher’s hand as they led the parade around the Winchester Rural School playground.
When asked how that made her feel, Grace said: “It made me feel happy”.
Her teacher, Jacquie Coombs, said: “She’s fighting a battle, we’re fighting it with her, and she just loves to be at school”.
Just being able to visit her classroom was a big deal for Grace.
“I didn’t want to be at home, I really just wanted to come back and see you guys,” she said.
Grace’s mother Kaye said it was “pretty sad” to see the struggles the foundation was experiencing.
“There are so many more families going through it, the journey they have to take, the ups and downs, it can affect everyone.
“It’s amazing to be able to share even a little bit of our story that will hopefully raise a little bit of funds and awareness that can go towards helping other families.”
Meanwhile, Grace is well enough to start enjoying some of her favourite things again, like riding her motorbike.