Large-hearted Lochy

By Lia Bichel
PAJAMA-clad with rackets in hand, 26 young competitors took to the tennis court last week to support a friend and raise money for the Leukemia Foundation.
The Berwick Tennis Club had a fun tournament, bake sale, sausage sale and collected donations to raise $866 on Friday to support fellow member, Narre Warren resident Lochy Bankes-Fay. Lochy, 12, was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia on 7 February this year, forcing him to stop attending school and playing his favourite sport.
Lois Plowman, who coaches Lochy with fellow coach Alison Miller, decided to hold the event to help him on his quest to raise funds for the foundation.
“Lochy has raised about $7500 including our $866. I was moved by the fact that he was raising money and think he is just an amazing little man,” Ms Plowman said.
“Even through his illness he is still thinking of other people.
“I think cancer, of all sorts, is something that touches us all, but it’s even more heart-wrenching when children are affected.”
Ms Plowman said Lochy was not feeling well and unable to attend the event, but his friends sent them a picture message before they started playing to let them know they were thinking of him.
“The kids played in fantastic spirits. They played in their pajamas because we know Lochy would be in his pajamas a lot of the time,” Ms Plowman said.
“Before the event was held, we all had a chat and I told them if they get upset with how they are playing to take time to remember how lucky they are that they can play. We decided to not be too serious and have fun.”