THIS month, thousands of Australians are taking part in the Great Cycle Challenge to raise money for Children’s Medical Research Institute (CMRI), but for five-year-old Bathurst boy Brody Miller the event is somewhat of a celebration.
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He has just completed his final round of chemotherapy this week and to mark this occasion a team of Great Cycle Challenge bike riders have designed him a very special “Batmobile’’ sidecar so he can join them on their mission.
Brody is a ball of energy, like most boys his age, and just under a year ago broke his arm. It wasn’t until his mum, Stacey, and dad, Jesse, took Brody to the fracture clinic as it was healing that there was a sign that something wasn’t right.
“The doctor talked to a doctor at Westmead who said, ‘I want you here today’,’’ Stacey said.
“They did a bone biopsy and took blood and told us he had cancer. It was surreal.’’
Brody was diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma through his arm bone. He has had ongoing chemotherapy as well as surgery to remove part of the bone in his leg to put into his arm – which is now growing well. The family have spent more time at Westmead in the last 12 months than at home.
“He is technically cancer-free,’’ Stacey smiles.
While Brody’s future is looking bright, Stacey said fundraising for cancer research is vital.
When Brody was still having treatment, he met a hospital volunteer by the name of Kim Guisa. The pair bonded over an amazing chicken nugget-inspired cake she made for patients.
“I saw his smile and that was it,’’ Kim said. “I shared a photo and everyone wanted to raise money for him, so now I’m riding with my friends for Brody. I call it Our Tour de Friends and there are 15 of us.’’
Kim’s team, including Olympian Jana Pittman, made Brody a Batman sidecar and hope to raise $10,000. They reached $5270 in the first week.
Brody is on $2225 and he also hopes to raise $10,000.
Brody thinks all the attention around his illness and people riding for him is fantastic.
“He loves it,’’ Stacey laughs. “He says, ‘what’s the big deal’ and I say, ‘you’re the big deal’.’’
The concept behind the Great Cycle Challenge is simple: set yourself a goal of how many kilometres you want to ride anywhere in Australia throughout October – you can even do it on the spin bike at the gym. Along the way, you need to get people to sponsor your journey.
This year they are hoping to raise $3 million for Children’s Medical Research Institute and assist the 600 Australian children who are diagnosed with cancer each year.