Cancer kids have

A YOUNG Keysborough cancer survivor enjoyed a day of Christmas cheer at the Challenge Christmas Party at Sandown Racecourse.
Nine-year-old Gaetano Lacota is in remission after spending a year fighting and beating cancer. His mother Maria said he couldn’t have done it without Challenge – a program designed to support children going through treatment.
“Without Challenge I wouldn’t have a son today. They have kept him alive,” she said.
“There were times during that year that Gaetano had just about given up on life, but then we’d receive invitations from Challenge to attend events they were hosting like camps and family activity days, and it gave him something to look forward to. He’d say ‘mum, I’ve got to get out of hospital so I can go to this’,” she said.
The Challenge Christmas Party included free rides, food, drinks and loads of other activities which were enjoyed by about 900 kids that have been directly or indirectly affected by cancer or other life-threatening blood disorders.
Challenge CEO David Rogers said it costs about $35,000 to host the Challenge Christmas Party each year, where everything including admission was free, and each child received a gift from Santa.
“Challenge is a unique program that not only supports the child going though treatment but extends to the whole family,” he said.
“Events such as our Christmas party allow the opportunity for our families to spend time together being a family rather than dealing with the enormity of their child’s illness.”
Funds for the Challenge Christmas Party come from various sources including three greyhounds – Pancake Eater, Lethal Lion King and Kings of Leonard – who raised in excess of $7000 for Challenge during this year’s AFL season as part of a joint fundraiser between 3AW and Greyhound Racing Victoria.