Kylie’s her idol – no kidding

By Callan Date
WHEN 15-year-old cancer sufferer Rhiannon Landells hears the Kylie Minogue classic Kids, she is inspired to keep up her brave battle.
And that battle got a boost last week when the Clyde resident spent half an hour with the pop princess at Rod Laver Arena.
“It was so much fun. I was jumping up and down with joy when I first found out that I was going to meet her,” Rhiannon said.
Rhiannon was diagnosed with a bone tumour at the base of her spine one year and one day ago – a moment that changed her life forever.
Rhiannon’s mother, Rose, said her daughter had been brave over the past year and the Kylie meeting was a real boost.
“It has been really hard on the whole family,” she said.
Ms Landells said Rhiannon had been so sick that she was unable to attend Kylie’s concert as planned – but just the meeting had lifted her spirits immensely.
“Meeting Kylie has been one of the first things she has been able to do for a long while,” Ms Landells said.
Rhiannon spoke to Kylie about many things during the meeting, including the pop star’s own cancer battle and how she handled the loss of her hair.
She also asked a cheeky question on behalf of her mum.
“I asked for Robbie Williams’ phone number for my mum and Kylie told me ‘I don’t think I can do that for you’,” Rhiannon said with a laugh.
Rhiannon’s special day was made possible by children’s cancer support organisation Challenge and Ms Landells has nothing but praise for the group.
“Challenge has just been great. I’m a single mother so they have been really helpful, not just for Rhiannon but for my other kids, too,” Ms Landells said.
And as Rhiannon is so often reminded during her favourite Kylie song … her idol definitely doesn’t mind doing it for the kids.