In an inspiring display of resilience and courage, Tessa Perry, 4, has become a beacon of hope in the fight against childhood cancer on the Sunshine Coast through rallying the community to support the Children’s Hospital Foundation this Easter.
In November 2023, after a trip to her local emergency department complaining of stomach pains, Tessa was thrust into a challenging battle for her life when she was diagnosed with stage-four neuroblastoma – a rare and aggressive form of cancer.
“Learning Tessa had only a 60 per cent chance of survival left us shocked, scared and absolutely terrified,” Tessa’s mum, Renee shared.
Tessa has recently completed her fifth round of induction chemotherapy and is now gearing up for a major operation to remove a main mass, followed by a challenging phase of at least two months in isolation to reset her system, culminating in a complete bone marrow transplant.
“Being away from home during Tessa’s treatment is incredibly hard, but the Children’s Hospital Foundation has been a lifeline, easing the burden and making our stays less boring,” Renee added.
Now, Tessa and her family are stepping forward as the faces of the Sunshine Coast region for the Children’s Hospital Foundation Easter Appeal, aiming to motivate the community to support sick children through shopping at Woolworths.
This Easter, 100 per cent of donations to Children’s Hospital Foundation made at Sunshine Coast Woolworths stores will go towards the Queensland Children’s Hospital to ensure Queensland kids like Tessa receive the best possible care and treatment – when it is needed most.
Since 2016, Woolworths customers have raised over $330,000 for sick Sunshine Coast children through the Easter Appeal.
Children’s Hospital Foundation chief executive officer, Lyndsey Rice is thrilled to see Woolworths lend a hand to support the Children’s Hospital Foundation Easter Appeal, to ensure the Queensland Children’s Hospital can continue to deliver world- leading care for our state’s children.
“Through shopping at Woolworths this Easter, you can make a genuine difference in the care and treatment that children and their families receive at the Queensland Children’s Hospital each and every day,” Ms Rice said.
Queensland Children’s Hospital was recently recognised by Newsweek as the 10th best paediatric hospital in the world – the highest ranked in Australia and the Southern Hemisphere.
“Whether you live in Cairns, Mount Isa or Brisbane, we want Queensland families to know that their child will receive the best possible care and treatment when facing the unimaginable,” Ms Rice added.
“A $2 donation on check-out can make a huge impact for sick kids and we are incredibly humbled to have the support of the Woolworths community once again in 2024.”
Queensland Children’s Hospital treats the state’s sickest and most critically injured children. Each year, there are approximately 1696 inpatient admissions, 13,810 outpatient admissions and 550 emergency department presentations from children in the Sunshine Coast region.
Woolworths general manager in Queensland, Danny Baldwin, said: “Since 2016, our Queensland customers continue to exceed expectations in their generous and steadfast support of organisations like the Children’s Hospital Foundation through the annual Easter Appeal.”
“This is a great example of how a little good can add up and have a huge impact on the lives of sick kids and their families across the state.”
Woolworths customers will be able to purchase a $2 egg-shaped wall token or donate to the Children’s Hospital Foundation to benefit Queensland Children’s Hospital at all Woolworths stores across the Sunshine Coast until 2 April 2024.
For more information on the Children’s Hospital Foundation, visit childrens.org.au
