By CASEY NEILL
SPRINGVALE Scouts donned beanies for brain cancer on Monday after being inspired by a brave Hampton Park boy.
They were heeding the call Gold Logie winner Carrie Bickmore made at Sunday’s award ceremony in a tribute to her late husband, who lost his battle with brain cancer.
The Project presenter put on a beanie while accepting her trophy and urged others to join her to raise awareness of the disease.
Levi Wilkins was reluctant to wear his beanie at the 2nd Springvale Scout Group tribute, telling his mum Teagan “I don’t need these anymore”.
The five-year-old has been cancer-free for two years and can’t wait to join his brother Zaidyn, 8, as a member of the group.
Cub Scout leader Leanne Morgan said more than 45 youths and leaders took part and she’d “never been prouder”.
Levi was just over seven months old when he was diagnosed with medulloblastoma. He’d missed milestones and had “a few quirks”.
“I took a perfectly healthy looking child to the ED at Monash. After some investigation he had fluid on the brain,” she said.
“It was caused by a seven centimetre tumour. It’s really hard to comprehend.
“It had basically taken up about three quarters of his skull cavity.”
Levi endured a year of chemotherapy and was given the all clear, but relapsed.
“He underwent quite toxic chemotherapy which required him to have his stem cells removed from his system and harvested,” Ms Wilkins said.
“Then they had to go back into his body once the chemo had finished.
“Then he underwent six weeks of intense radiation on the back of his head.”
He has been healthy since his third birthday is progressing through rehabilitation. The tumour affected his mobility, balance and co-ordination.
“He’s had a pretty tough start on life. It’s never ever phased him in the slightest,” Ms Wilkins said.
“He took all the needles and all the surgeries in his stride.”
Ms Wilkins said she felt Bickmore’s pain but the response to her speech had warmed her heart.
“It’s a perfect catch phrase and I am so blown away with the epidemic that it’s started,” she said.
“We do need funding to help other kids like Levi.”
