A challenge like no other

Tasmanian Mum Jodi is pushing herself out of her comfort zone, taking on an epic trek to the heart of Australia for a cause that’s close to her heart.

A doctor’s intuition

Three-year-old Trystan had been unwell for weeks; tired, pale, lethargic and cold all the time. Doctors were perplexed, trying antibiotics and investigating viruses to no avail. Mum Jodi was sure that something was deeply wrong, as Trystan began waking up with unexplained bruises and a huge rash developed across his legs.

On a routine trip to the GP for Jodi’s other son, the doctor noticed Trystan slumped in his chair.

“The doctor saved his life that day,” Jodi explained, praising the doctor who ran blood tests for Trystan on the spot. After a tense few hours Jodi got a call.

Chemo, chemo, chemo

Trystan was rushed straight to local North West Regional Hospital, before being flown to Royal Hobart Hospital within 24 hours. A diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia was confirmed.

Reunited after treatment

With four other children, one of whom has autism, Trystan’s ongoing treatment took a toll on Jodi’s whole family.

“They were just little kids and our whole world was being ripped apart all over again,” Jodi says. “They’d just lost their Dad and then lost their Mum and their brother.”

Take on an amazing adventure and raise money for research. Find out more.

Lacing up her boots to spread awareness

After seeing a post on Facebook about The Kids’ Cancer Project’s Larapinta trek, Jodi decided to sign up.

“I’m terribly scared,” Jodi says, laughing. “I’m not a hiker. But I’ve got my boots so I’m starting!”

The trek takes place in August 2021, taking on one of Australia’s most iconic treks across the ruggedly beautiful scenery of Central Australia. And the best part is, participants will be walking to raise money for kids’ cancer research.

When Jodi’s feeling apprehensive about the walk, she takes inspiration from her son.

And, after so long looking after her family, Jodi is excited that Larapinta is breaking her out of her comfort zone.

“This has given me a purpose and something to strive for. It’s challenged me to take a break from the role of caregiver.”

Science is the solution

Jodi hopes that by undertaking the challenge, she will spread awareness for childhood cancer and the role of scientific research to improve outcomes for kids after a diagnosis.

“The nurses tried to console me saying don’t worry there’s an 80 per cent survival rate. But I kept thinking, what about the other 20 per cent?”

“I have so much respect for scientists and researchers who dedicate their lives to childhood cancer. The research is critical to finding cures.”

Jodi muses on one particularly bad night when even the nurses were frightened after Trystan had an anaphylactic reaction to a chemotherapy drug.

“The alternative treatment was 36 deep muscular injections, two at a time one in each thigh. We had to gas him at that stage. It’s one of the cruelest medications and I often asked myself, why am I putting him through this?”

She hopes that her fundraising efforts will help lead to scientific breakthroughs that ensure no child has to go through such an ordeal in the future.

“To find something that would not affect him the way current treatments do, that’s where the science and research comes in."

Get involved

If you'd like to fundraise like Jodi, but a big trek isn't your thing, there are plenty of opportunities to support The Kids' Cancer Project. Find out more about fundraising here.