Cancer scare fundraiser

By Rebecca Fraser
A BERWICK teenager’s health scare has prompted her to try and bring some happiness into the lives of children living with cancer.
In February, Laura Murphy underwent brain surgery to remove a benign tumour.
The 13-year-old is now well on the road to recovery but said she understood just how fortunate she was to be facing a bright and healthy future.
During her week in hospital Ms Murphy said she saw first hand the pain and suffering that some children undergo and the bleak futures they can face. The Year 7 student at St Francis Xavier in Berwick now plans to raise funds for some of these sick children and bring some hope into their lives.
On Sunday (11 December) Ms Murphy will run and walk 10 kilometres through Berwick to try and raise $1,000 for Camp Quality which supports children with cancer.
Ms Murphy said her time in hospital spurred her on to raise funds for those less fortunate than herself.
“When I was in hospital I met a boy called Christian who had a blood disease,” Ms Murphy said. “He came into my room and was talking to my sister and me.
“His life was in trouble but he came in and was still very happy.
“Knowing that he could be happy even when bad things were happening to him made me want to do something,” she said.
Ms Murphy said she had also been overwhelmed by the number of young children undergoing cancer treatment and said she hoped to make a difference.
Her mother Julie, who will be supervising her run on Sunday, said she was proud of her daughter’s drive to raise funds for charity.
She said the family was shocked when they received news that Laura was ill but now felt very fortunate that she was on the mend.
“You just don’t expect it or think it will happen to your children and I am a nurse so I knew the potential,” she said.