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Jimmy’s 22 Million Steps
From May 2013 to June 2014 inspirational young Jimmy Harrington walked around Australia to raise awareness of childhood brain cancer and to raise funds for the Brainchild Foundation. After a year on the road, walking close to 16,000 kilometres through rain, cyclones and soaring heat, Jimmy raised a phenomenal $300,000 for Brainchild under the banner of Jimmy’s Walk for Cancer.
In 2018, Jimmy and the Brainchild Foundation came together to replicate Jimmy’s walk with an annual virtual walk that everyone could participate in during Brain Cancer/Tumour Awareness month of May. Anyone can register to participate and help Jimmy to retrace his original 22 million steps and help to raise much needed funds to support families during the most difficult time of their lives, as well as fund research of childhood brain cancer.
In 2019 (our second year)we appointed some very inspiration young people to act as our Step Ambassadors or ‘Super Steppers‘. Each of these children have been touched by brain tumours and are doing their best to make a difference. We are so proud to have their support and cannot thank them and their families enough for Stepping up for brain cancer.
Our Super Steppers
Alby was just 3 years old when diagnosed with a large brain tumour. It was a frontal-parietal pilocytic astrocytoma. Hewas immediately transferred to Brisbane for surgery. As a result of the surgery and where the tumour was, he had right side hemiplegia. After months of rehab in hospital to learn to walk and talk again, Alby finally went home to his parents and 3 brothers. One year later Alby was doing well, so it came as a complete shock when it was discovered that he had another tumour. Two years later two more tumours were found, so yet again back to hospital for a third surgery and this time he bounced back so quick he was only in hospital for 50 hours. What a little legend. He is now 5 years in the clear and is a Little Athletics champion and great friend of Brainchild Foundation.
Kade was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour in March 2014 and has undergone brain surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Unfortunately due to the nature of Kades brain cancer his family can never fully relax about his illness as it can come back at any time.
Kade is 5 years old. He started prep at Kalbar State School this year and they are supporting him and Brainchild Foundation by setting up a team in Jimmy’s 22 Million Steps for kids brain cancer.
Issy was diagnosed with a medulloblastoma last year after noticing her dancing was off balance and she would be sick randomly without warning. After our GP sent us to emergency at the John hunter children’s hospital to get an MRI we soon discovered she had a brain tumour. After 2 major surgeries, 6 weeks of radiation and 4 months of chemotherapy, with the final round in June, Issy has been nothing but a fighter, our hero, throughout it all.
Her school st Joseph’s east maitland primary school is hosting a week long walkathon where students donate a coin to wear their joggers every day and they do a lap of the school to help with Issys efforts to raise money for 22 Million Steps. Even though she is finding it tough to get around in her feet atm she still tries to get as many steps in her day.
In September of 2014 Holly’s brother Lachlan lost his battle with brain cancer. They were best friends and she misses him every day. During his 5 year battle the Brainchild Foundation supported Holly, Lachlan and their family in so many ways. To honour his memory, Holly works hard to give back to them and in turn help other families who are in the midst of their own fight. Last year as a fundraiser, Holly walked 60kms from Caloundra to Noosa in one day and raised almost $19,000 for Brainchild. This year she is joining Jimmy’s 22 Million Steps for the first time and hopes to continue to raise funds and awareness so that one day we find a cure.
Sasha was diagnosed with a brain tumour in July 2017 at 8 years of age and since then she has had 30 surgeries. Her Journey has been long and complicated, but she continues to fight and work hard every single day. She has a long roadto recovery and like us all, Sasha hopes that monies raised go towards finding a cure for brain cancer.
Thank you for being an awesome Super Stepper Sasha and thank you to Yamba Public School for getting behind her cause and helping to make a difference.
Ethan is 5 years post diagnosis for brain cancer and then posterior fossa syndrome after tumour resection. He has life-long cognitive, physical and medical difficulties. However, Ethan pushes himself to achieve in the greatest ways. He makes his mum, dad, older brother and younger sister so proud. Ethan has the best sense of humour. He loves Batman and all other superheroes. Ethan is so caring and loves making cards and drawing pictures for his family members. His favourite thing is playing lego with his brother and sister. This year his older brother, William, has joined their mum in doing Jimmy’s 22 Million Steps.
Logan from Adelaide has been helping Jimmy raise money for kids with cancer for years. He and his Mum Kathleen have been great supporters of Jimmy and Brainchild and are always one of the first to jump on board to make a difference. This is Logan’s second year walking in 22 Million Steps! This year he has gathered a team together and called them ‘Logans Heroes’. It is always special to have the support of children like Logan, who are just happy to help others for no personal gain. You are amazing Logan.
Grace bravely shared the story of her brain cancer journey with the students and staff at her new school Mary Mackillop College in Nundah at the beginning of May. We are so proud that she not only got up in front of the whole school to share this very personal story, but she has also inspired 31 of her teachers and friends to register in this years event.
Grace and her family have been friends and supporters of Brainchild Foundation for many years.
At just 4 years of age little Evie began suffering from headaches which would leave her screaming in pain. After scans
Evie’s parents were given the shock news that their daughter had a brain tumour the size of a golf ball. Evie had surgery that night – and was in hospital for a month. The tumour, called a Pilocytic Astrocytoma, couldn’t be removed, plus it had caused a drastic build-up of fluid in her head which needed to be drained. Evie later needed more surgery to have part of her skull removed so surgeons could get a sample of the growth. She lost her peripheral vision on one side due to the operation. And while it’s classed as low grade and slow growing, because of where the tumour is, doctors can’t remove it, as more surgery would leave her totally blind. Recently tests revealed the news the family had been dreading – the tumour had regrown and it is affecting Evie’s vision more than before.Evie is having chemo every week to try and shrink it again, but doctors have not said what the future holds.
