Talking about children’s cancer can bring up difficult and confronting emotions, but it is a reality that many families, including local families, face and an issue that deserves our understanding and support.

We are grateful to have Margaret Zita OAM, the CEO of Children’s Cancer Charity My Room, presenting at our “The Year that Was” event on Tuesday 25 November. She will talk about discovering her deep commitment to the cause of children’s cancer, volunteering her services to the My Room Children’s Cancer Charity for over 20 years. During this time, she raised vital awareness and funds to support families, enhance clinical care, and invest in research aimed at finding a cure for all childhood cancers.

We are also extremely grateful to have local community members, Pene Riedl and her son Hugo, sharing their personal experiences and insights. Their story offers a meaningful perspective on the challenging times, but also the hope and strength found in the support of the My Room Charity.

How My Room Has Helped Our Family – Pene Riedl

EMERGENCY ACCOMODATION

When Hugo was fighting for his life in intensive care, My Room arranged emergency on-site hotel accommodation for us. This meant we could stay close and check in on him at any time, day or night — a comfort that words can’t fully describe.

STAFF

My Room funds critical clinical care positions at the Royal Children’s Hospital. For Hugo, this meant access to an incredible multidisciplinary team — including an occupational therapist, social worker, dietitian, physiotherapist, and comfort care clinicians — who supported not only his recovery but our entire family.

LONG TERM ACCOMODATION

During the early stages of Hugo’s maintenance treatment, we faced three hospital visits a week for six months. My Room provided us with a healing home in Brighton, allowing our family to be together again and giving Hugo the stability and warmth he needed to recover.

EXPERIENCE

Through My Room, our family has also shared joyful experiences that reminded us of life beyond hospital walls. The boys attended a kids’ tennis clinic, and Felix even had the unforgettable honour of flipping the coin at a celebrity match — where he met Novak Djokovic and Stefanos Tsitsipas.

By coming together, we can build awareness, offer support, and create a space for compassion and connection.

No need to RSVP; just come along and join us for this heartfelt event.