House debates

Wednesday, 11 September 2024

Statements by Members

Cancer Support Fundraising

1:41 pm

Photo of David SmithDavid Smith (Bean, Australian Labor Party) Share this | | Hansard source

Every week 14 Australian families are given the heartbreaking news that their child has cancer. Last Thursday evening outside Parliament House I caught up with two Australians with big hearts on a big adventure, raising money for some of our youngest Australians living with cancer. Ed and Seb are now 2,100 kilometres through a more-than-2,700-kilometre walk from Brisbane to Melbourne to raise money for Camp Quality. The journey has taken them from Brisbane, down the coast, across the Blue Mountains, down to Nowra, up to Canberra and now up into the Snowy Mountains.

Camp Quality is an amazing charity dedicated to improving the lives of children living with cancer. Ed and Seb's Big, Big, Big Walk for Little Kids has raised more than $70,000. They have done an amazing, selfless job and they are doing it memory of their mate Dave, who lost his battle with mental health. Ed and Seb and their mate Dave were all Camp Quality vollies, and saw firsthand how important the camps and fun days are for children on the long road of a cancer journey. What has filled their cup on this amazing journey has been the support of their families, the friends who have joined them for sections of this odyssey, and the communities across Australia who have greeted them. This September you can put your best foot forward by getting behind the efforts to bring positivity, fun and laughter back into the lives of kids facing cancer.