Nate Anderson (centre) with his mates (back row from left) Campbell, Madeline, Xavier, Zane and Caitlin. Front: Shay and Jace.
Marie Nirme www.communitypix.com.au   d474220
Camera IconNate Anderson (centre) with his mates (back row from left) Campbell, Madeline, Xavier, Zane and Caitlin. Front: Shay and Jace. Marie Nirme www.communitypix.com.au d474220 Credit: Supplied/Marie Nirme www.communitypix.com.au d474220

Craigie: Young leukaemia battler flies off to AFL grand final to watch his beloved Richmond

Tyler BrownJoondalup Times

THE celebrations keep coming for eight-year-old Nate Anderson.

In February 2014, when he was in pre-primary, Nate was diagnosed with leukaemia.

Just two months later, he was also diagnosed with an extremely rare and dangerous fungal infection, scedosporium prolificans osteomyelitis.

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In August, he had his leg amputated because of the infection, coincidentally on the same day the family’s car was stolen with Nate’s wheelchair in the back.

But after going through long, painful treatments and coming very close to losing his life, Nate has finally been given the all-clear.

Nate is a mad sports fan, so to celebrate his good news, Whitford Catholic Primary School students wore their favourite sports kits last Thursday, raising more than $600 for the Go Gold in September campaign for childhood cancer awareness.

“No one wants this cancer but it could happen to anyone, so we all need to help get rid of it,” Nate said.

“We need to raise money to give to the doctors so they can find a way to get rid of it.

“Everyone at Whitfords has helped me and my family; all of the teachers and kids, especially my friends Zane and Jace, but we need more people to help by putting money in the boxes.”

As a huge Richmond supporter, Nate proudly wore his AFL Guernsey for the fundraiser.

Now the youngster has flown to Melbourne to watch the Tigers in this Saturday’s grand final.

It won’t be the first time he has been up close with his role models.

In June 2014, Nate and his family were flown to Melbourne as special guests of the Tigers, watching a game from a corporate box and going in to the changerooms to meet the players.

That day, they beat St Kilda by 44 points.

Nate will be hoping for a similar result against Adelaide at the MCG this weekend.

Principal Tamara McGougan said over the past three and a half years, the Craigie school community had pulled together to support Nate, raising more than $25,000 to help Nate, including a new prosthetic running leg.

“We have all been inspired by this determined, beautifully natured and very strong little boy, showing us daily that anything is possible,” she said.

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