In a cruel twist of fate, one of our Great Cycle Challenge ambassadors, five-year-old Emily, died last month after recently being declared cancer-free.

Like so many kids with cancer, it was the treatment rather than the cancer itself that had the most devastating impact on Emily’s tiny body.

The need for more personalised treatments for childhood cancer is why Emily’s family agreed to be a part of the Great Cycle Challenge—to educate others about how much work is still to be done in cancer research.

The Great Cycle Challenge (GCC), held every October, calls on thousands of cyclists all over Australia to ride and fundraise for the cancer research conducted at the Children’s Medical Research Institute. As part of the campaign, GCC select ambassadors to share their experience living with cancer, so that everyday Australians can understand the catastrophic effect of cancer on children and their families.

GCC manager Rachel Tanner said that Emily’s parents, Emma and Brodie, were honoured when Emily was chosen as an ambassador.

“The general public is completely unaware how cruel and gruelling childhood cancer treatment is,” Ms Tanner said. “In sharing their stories, our brave ambassadors play a vital role in highlighting the need for better treatments.”

Emily’s Mum, Emma, said that “Emily was the picture of childhood happiness, yet she endured a nightmare beyond comprehension. She fought so hard, and she beat stage 4 metastatic cancer. That’s the hardest part to accept: it wasn’t the cancer that took her life; it was the treatment.”

Emily was diagnosed with high-risk neuroblastoma only six months ago. Her diagnosis came after recurring stomach pain, appetite loss, and a sudden limp that developed overnight. Emily’s parents pushed for a scan of her abdomen, which showed a large tumour the size of a grapefruit, on her kidney.

Emily subsequently underwent major surgery, preceded by multiple rounds of chemotherapy and countless tests, scans, and painful procedures. She was declared cancer-free before her bone marrow transplant.

Unfortunately, the high dose chemotherapy that Emily received completely destroyed her immune system. During her transplant, Emily developed a rare infection that travelled to her brain and caused multiple aneurysms. After three days in ICU, she died in her parents’ arms in the hospital garden.

Ms Tanner said Emily’s parents were adamant that Emily remained an ambassador as an important part of her legacy.

“Despite everything Emily endured, she maintained her sass and her sense of humour. In her short time with us, she taught us more about life and love, and resilience and strength, than we would have ever learned without her,” said Emily’s Dad, Brodie.

“That’s why we support GCC—to honour Emily’s memory and to help improve the lives of all Australian children living with this terrible disease.”

Join or donate to Emily's Great Cycle Challenge page: https://greatcyclechallenge.co...