By Nick Creely
Saturday was all about paying it forward.
On the netball court, Beaconsfield and Berwick are great rivals, but that was put aside for one greater cause on the weekend – the fight against brain cancer.
The ‘Ciara pays it forward’ fundraiser took place for both clubs as they joined forces to raise funds for the Charlie Teo Foundation, which is doing everything possible to cure brain cancer through important research.
The foundation, founded by Dr Charlie Teo, has a special place in the hearts of Beaconsfield netballer Ciara Nelson and her family. Ciara was granted a second chance at life after Dr Teo removed an inoperable brain tumour in March 2018, in what was a high-risky surgery.
With her life well and truly back on track, Ciara teamed up with both netball clubs to give back to the miraculous work of Dr Teo, with a day full of exciting netball, special appearances and raffles.
Both Under 11 teams played out a thrilling exhibition match to showcase the pathway to senior netball, with the entire remaining junior and senior matches going ahead to keep the crowd entertained.
Retired Australian netball legend Bianca Chatfield then made a special appearance to draw the raffle during the A-Grade clash, as well present the trophy to the eventual winner of ‘The Battle of the Creek’, which was Beaconsfield. Gembrook MP Brad Battin was also there to show his support for the cause.
Chatfield – along with Narre Warren local and Collingwood Magpie netballer Matilda Garrett – will also host a free coaching clinic for junior netballers at Holm Park on 26 May, sponsored by Lexus in Berwick, who will in turn make a donation directly to the Charlie Teo Foundation.
The event also sold ‘Candles for Cure’, made by Ciara’s mum Colleen, with all proceeds going to the Charlie Teo Foundation.
Colleen told the Gazette that it was a wonderful occasion, and said that they have raised almost $6000 towards the Foundation.
“I just found it really positive, it was a really good day – a lot of people put a lot of work into what went on Saturday, and we were very fortunate to raise that kind of money,” she said.
“Everyone’s jumped on board with it, it’s been amazing.”
Colleen payed tribute to the work that Dr Teo continues to do in his fight against brain cancer, lauding him for doing whatever it takes to find a cure.
“Charlie Teo walked away from his foundation, and that was originally ‘Cure Brain Cancer Foundation’, because he believed people were donating money that he believed was mostly going to administration costs, and he wasn’t getting any further up with research and money for research and finding a cure for brain cancer,” he said.
“He started the Charlie Teo Foundation, which relies entirely on volunteerism, and everyone volunteers their time, there are no admin costs, and so he’s gone back to basics to try and raise money.”
Described as a miracle surgery, Colleen said that her daughter was one of the lucky ones, and will be forever grateful that Dr Teo took the chance and saved her life.
“Ciara is a very special case – she is one of his star patients. Not all of these surgeries go as well as Ciara’s unfortunately,” he said.
“Being in the brain stem, it is considered inoperable, every other neurosurgeon, they don’t go there.
“I think there’s only four in the world that have done it, so for Ciara to get such a successful result from that surgery is incredible.
“Especially when we were told no by everybody else, no one gave us any hope that anything could be done.
“She is doing amazing – she’s had some vision damage from the surgery, but she wears glasses now, and she’s booked in for surgery at the end of the year to help with that.
“Apart from that, she’s 100 per cent fine.”
But, there is still so much more that needs to be done to find a cure for this insidious disease, with brain cancer causing so much grief for families around the world.
“I think people need to understand that brain cancer kills more children than any other disease – people just don’t know that,” she said.
“We’ve had chats with so many families, and they’ve lost their children ever since – I don’t know why Ciara’s so special and fortunate when everyone else hasn’t been, but there’s been no progression in survival rates in 30 years for brain cancer.
“Breast cancer, prostate cancer, the survival rate has improved – brain cancer takes everything you do, and everything you are, it’s brutal.”
For more information on Charlie Teo, head to charlieteofoundation.org.au
