A YOUNG family-man has been diagnosed with a rare and aggressive cancer with locals banding to help fundraise.
Thirty-six-year-old Kyal Champion was diagnosed with Thoracic SMARCA4 Cancer (stage 4) in March last year.
His wife Jade Champion said the prognosis was bad with Kyal only being given six months.
“Kyal started chemotherapy and immunotherapy and responded really well all last year,” she said.
“Unfortunately in January this year, his scans showed he was no longer responding to the immunotherapy.
“So we went to Sydney and he has commenced a clinical trial of a new immunotherapy with added medication.
“Kyal will receive the infusion every three weeks in Sydney.”
The couple have been together since they were 14 years old and were married for their 10-year anniversary.
“We’ve been married for 13 yrs and together for 23,” Jade said.
“We have three children. Tatum (19), Brianna (14) and Jaxson (10).”
Mrs Champion said they have travelled to and from Sydney five times in the last two months.
“We have had a lot support from the community with a GoFundMe page to help with travel expenses,” she said.
“The diagnosis has changed our lives in so many ways. Financially we took a huge hit.
“Two years ago, Kyal was a diamond driller, working on the mine, and I was nursing.
“Kyal is now on disability payments as he is declared terminal and, due to the constant travel and treatments, I have not worked for nearly 10 months.
“We really struggle to make ends meet with Centrelink being our only income now.
“Brianna and Jaxson divide their time between both sets of grandparents and their older sister’s home when we are away.
“Getting structure in the family unit is difficult.”
Mrs Champion said being told someone you love is terminal was very heavy to face.
“You never expect to be handed a diagnosis like this at our age.
“Kyal was 35 in March last year when diagnosed and then to be told he was terminally ill and not expected to last the year was unbelievable,” she said.
“But he’s done amazing, is still fighting and not going down in a hurry.
“The kids are resilient and have adapted really well and our eldest daughter Tatum has grown up so fast and stepped in for me whilst I’m away with Kyal.”
A number of fundraisers are going around for the young family, one in particular being organised by Hungry Jack’s owner Carrie Oakley.
Ms Oakley is holding a ‘Perfect Pet Photo Shoot’. It is $20 per shoot and will kick off at 1pm, Saturday, May 3 at Hungry Jack’s.
Ms Oakley has asked for people to register and for volunteers to help on the day.
“Carrie has been a long close friend of our family for many years now and we are so incredibly thankful for her support,” Mrs Champion said.
“We remain positive and will know in a couple of weeks if the clinical trial is effective with trying to beat this.”
The link to the GoFundMe is https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-kyal-and-his-family-pay-for-ongoing-travel-expenses.
Contact Ms Oakley at Hungry Jack’s for more information on her fundraiser.
