KID CANCER CURE RIDE IN NAME OF LOVE
WHILE most of Brooke Kaluzyn’s friends were enjoying sport, going to school and the movies, the Benowa State High School student was battling multiple brain tumours and gruelling rounds of chemotherapy.
“I’d been sitting in hospitals for so long I just wanted to get back to my friends,” she said.
Today, the 14-year-old has achieved that. After almost two years of operations, hospital stays, chemo and radiation therapy, Brooke is finally in remission.
“She had a six centimetre tumour underneath the base of her brain and had two surgeries. The first was to remove the main tumour and a few weeks later a second tumour was removed,” said Brooke’s father, Nick Kaluzyn.
“It was a very scary time for the family. That was October 2016 and then we started radiation at Christmas. That went through to March 2017 and, after a break, then started intense chemo until July.
“Childhood Cancer Support provided us a place to stay because we have four kids. We took the other three out of their school and up to the school at the Lady Cilento Hospital. We are so grateful.’’
Tomorrow, the Kaluzyn family will assist Childhood Cancer Support by taking part in the Ride for Love. Brooke is an ambassador for the charity fundraising event.
Gold Coast Harley Owners Group will take passengers to Brisbane via the Hinterland.
Tickets include a ride on a Harley motorbike, morning tea, a visit to Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital and lunch. Pillion seat tickets are $130; single rider entries are $25.