By Ethan Benedicto
Spreading the message is the most important aspect of her campaign, as Sarah Kelly embarks on a journey of advocacy and solidarity for those suffering from brain cancer.
Sarah, who was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2021 was given between two to five years to live – but having broken through the estimate, is steadfast in her goal of supporting brain cancer research through Carrie’s Beanies 4 Brain Cancer Foundation.
A Beaconsfield local, Sarah has since been in touch with Berwick MP Brad Battin, and in collaboration with local tattoo studio Skin Architecture, began a fundraiser with the goal of $5000; which if met, would result with a lucky local to pick and choose a tattoo for Brad himself.
Sarah said that after her diagnosis, she “realised how little people knew about brain cancer and the impact it has on families”.
Speaking on her own condition, Sarah said that “everything’s improved to the point where I’m actually able to feel like I’ve got the energy”.
“I’ve got the capacity to be a voice for brain cancer patients, and unfortunately pretty much everyone passes away.”
After her diagnosis, Sarah immediately went for surgery, which was soon followed by radiation treatment and then a year of chemotherapy; at that stage, it wasn’t uncommon for her to experience seizures.
Having been two years without a seizure, Sarah said that she is “one of the few that is here to tell my story”.
“So I really felt like I can do this, I felt like this is my time, my opportunity to share,” she said.
For every $1 donated between Friday 30 August and Sunday 8 September will be an entry into a draw which, at the end of the fundraiser, will dictate the person set to decide on a tattoo for Brad in honour of Sarah’s and many others’ hope for a cure.
The $5000 will go towards Sarah’s goal of $20,000 for CB4BC, in conjunction with the organisation’s Point to Pinnacle trek at Mount Wellington, Tasmania on Sunday 17 November.
Brad, moved by Sarah’s goal and determination recently visited the Brain Cancer Centre alongside a number of other MPs, one of them being Sam Groth, who had recently lost his mother to the same illness.
“I wasn’t aware of that, none of us had ever spoken about it, so I said to myself, what can I do to raise money?” Brad said.
“It is the least I can do to assist and raise awareness of this cruel disease; I have known Sarah for many years and her passion for making more people aware of the impacts and to openly share her story is something I had to support.”
The fundraiser runs alongside Skin Architecture’s limited promotion until 8 September, an opportunity which Brad was more than eager to jump onto for a more “unique” take on fundraising.
Cheyenne, owner of the business is on the same boat, saying that she is more than pleased to support this for a great cause.
“We all know someone who has lost someone to cancer, and we are pleased to work with Sarah to create change,” she said.
“As a small local tattooist, we see many people who come in to get a tattoo in memory of loved ones, this is a little different and will be in honour of many.”
The act of raising awareness and advocacy for brain cancer research is a “privilege” for Sarah, with her saying that she has the chance to speak “on behalf of many”.
“I [recently] just wrote a spiel about, imagine a world where instead of being told you’ve got two to five years to go and make memories, imagine that there’s an alternative where they say, here are your treatment options, here’s what we have for you – I guess that’s what I’m really hoping for.
“My dream is to become a grandma one day, I’d really love to see my daughter, if she chooses to, to walk down the aisle.
“But first and foremost, I’ve got to set myself little goals, at the moment I just want to see her get to kinder, next is to see her get to primary school and then it’ll hopefully be high school and maybe beyond.”
Sarah recalled that there were multiple times when the possibility of her death was high, and the fact that she is still alive, able to move, speak and function made her “want to do something”.
For Brad, having a different take on fundraising is the minimum, and the “challenge is getting government support” for initiatives to tackle brain cancer.
“I presume it’ll hopefully come later on, but [it’s about] getting government support for their [Brain Cancer Centre] research.
“I just think that when you went through the centre, you see that if they had extra money, they would be in a different position.”
Currently, there are 10 tattoos for those who have donated to choose from, with both Brad and Sarah keen on inking a strong message of support.
To make a donation and for more information, visit pointtopinnacle2024.grassrootz.com/cb4bc/callow-sarah
