Thank you.

It’s humbling to receive so much support, love and kindness during what has been the journey of our lifetime.  For this, we are eternally grateful.  

During a routine operation to remove a cyst in December 2023, we found out our 11 year old daughter had Stage 4 ovarian cancer. We were also told that Tirion had metastasis to her lungs.  We were left utterly shocked and frightened as to what was ahead for Tirion and for us as a family. 

Having never before been through a cancer journey, we were new to what the experience would hold for us.  Fear had no words, stress and anxiety was at the helm and we were shattered.  What was laid out for us was further surgery and four rounds of BEP chemotherapy under the expert guidance of the Sydney Children’s Hospital Oncology Team over the next six months.

After an initial period, Tirion accepted her diagnosis and treatment plan with grace, bravery and stealth. She faced her fears head on and in the meantime showed us what it means to be a true warrior. We’ve learned so much from her and have become stronger as a family because of this experience. We’ve watched her grow up so quickly, quicker than we had anticipated….

When Chloe approached us to help support Tirion by shaving her head, both girls decided that the best way forward was to raise as much awareness and funds as possible so that no other girl or woman would be faced with Tirion’s diagnosis again.  

At the time of running this fundraiser, Tirion had just completed her final consecutive round of chemotherapy. She put her fundraising hat on to help others when she was still suffering from the effects of chemotherapy - and whilst waiting for her results as to whether her cancer had cleared or not. This fundraiser played a huge part in getting Tirion through the last part of her cancer journey.  

Money is such a practical thing when put to good use, and when donated to the right cause can change lives forever. But more than this, we want to say that each of you who donated and wrote your encouraging comments changed our lives.  

Specifically, when we were in the car heading to hospital to undergo our final testing, it was your comments we asked Tirion to read aloud in the car on the way there. She was in tears and frightened, and very reluctant to go to hospital and as she read each comment aloud, our family felt as though each and every one of you was there with us in the car that day, helping and encouraging us all to get to the hospital and showing her that she can get through this. That she is brave, strong, courageous, beautiful, amazing, a warrior, a wonderful best friend, a hero. You were so right - she really had got this! 

It was all of these words of yours that got our girl to the front door of the hospital that day and for this, as desperate parents, we absolutely, without a doubt, cannot thank each and every one of you enough.  Every comment, every donation was a life changing moment for us and for Tirion and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. 

To those who donated $5 from their own pocket money we want to say we appreciate you and Thankyou.   

To those giving because they’ve lost someone close from this disease, we see you and we grieve with you and we Thankyou.

To those who donated who are currently suffering through treatment for this disease, we see you and we pray for you and we Thankyou.   

To those who gave to support friendship, courage and bravery, we see you and we salute you and we Thankyou. 

And to those who gave out of the kindness of your souls, we want to say Thankyou, Thankyou, Thankyou. 

Finally, we would like to say thank you to Robin and her team at the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation for providing us with the ongoing support necessary to tread through these waters safely. We could not have come this far without you. Thankyou.

We would like to extend our thanks to Ben Fordham and the team at 2Gb for taking our fundraiser and elevating it to stratospheric heights. To say we were blown away is an understatement. From the outset, we were treated and respected lovingly during the entire process and we could not say Thankyou enough. You truly helped us to inspire the country and In return, your listeners responded in the same way. Phenomenal!

We want to express our gratitude to those involved in helping to crush this disease, improve treatment outcomes and halt reoccurrences altogether. We want no mother, woman or child to ever experience the same journey ever again. 

Also, a very BIG thankyou to Chloe for showing her kindness and bravery and willingness to shave her head for a wonderful cause such as this. We think you did a marvellous job, Chloe! 

Finally, I’d like to thank my daughter Tirion for showing us what it looks like to walk the path of a warrior, to get up and show up and get the job done 100%.  Because you are brave, you are beautiful, and you are our hero.  We love you.

Where are we now?

Tirion is currently cancer-free and heading into our first round of re-testing in mid-August 2024.  Tirion is attending school with Chloe and her other dear friends and is doing her best to adjust back to life in her new normal. She is happy and getting stronger everyday. 

Love Virginia, Lyle, and family