By Cam Lucadou-Wells
Team Lukazade will again be striding forth for the annual Monash Children’s Hospital Walk next month.
The team formed behind Luka Formoso, 10, of Dandenong North, who was diagnosed with leukemia on Good Friday in 2022.
For last year’s charity walk, the team raised a chart-topping $72,000 in just three weeks for the hospital.
His mother and Greater Dandenong deputy mayor Lana Formoso said the family was keen to once again support the cause.
“Monash Children’s Hospital is something we’re always going to be involved in
“If you ever think you’ve got problems, just go to the oncology ward and see the families and kids in there. It’s heart-breaking not just seeing your own child there, but heart-breaking to see any child there.
“There’s no words to describe the nurses and doctors – you can definitely feel the care and compassion that they’re showing for all of us.”
Luka is still enduring a gruelling regime of up to three chemo treatments daily. He faces another two years of the same.
“It’s day by day, to be honest,” Cr Formoso said.
“We were hopeful he’d start school last term, and he only went for four to five days.”
Most frustrating for the sports-loving Luka was missing the school’s athletics and cross-country days.
“He went from the fastest in his year level to being able to run five metres.”
During an “unimaginable” year, the family had to move out and demolish their home due to mould, which was particularly hazardous to Luka.
“At the end of the day, we are still one of the lucky ones,” Cr Formoso said.
“Luka’s cancer is one of the curable ones. And there are kids who don’t have the medicines, who don’t have the facilities we have.”
Cr Formoso says more government funding is needed to tackle childhood cancer.
In Australia, about 1000 children are diagnosed with cancer each year. One in four don’t survive.
“It is still the No.1 killer of children. And no child should have to endure this,” Cr Fomoso said.
“There’s definitely not enough funding for children’s cancer research. Some families have to sell up and move overseas to save their children’s lives.”
Cr Formoso has supplied a link for an early-bird discount for the Monash Children’s Hospital Walk.
“You’re not only doing yourself some good by getting exercise on a Sunday morning, but you’ll be supporting a very good cause for the community.”
The Monash Children’s Hospital Walk is at Jells Park on Sunday 7 May, 9am. To get early-bird discount tickets, enter the code LUKA2023 at https://monash.grassrootz.com/monash-children-s-hospital-walk-2023/tickets?fbclid=IwAR1ZVFFtecAf-0NWXnkdvCrIGoBV7soCnLAcVRVwUqYRsCoIDkAZuAmAjEo
