Kyle Andrews Foundation founding member Anne-Maree Maguire and volunteer mentor Deni Atkinson.
Camera IconKyle Andrews Foundation founding member Anne-Maree Maguire and volunteer mentor Deni Atkinson. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

South Perth resident celebrates five years cancer free

Nadia BudihardjoSouthern Gazette

FIVE years ago, South Perth resident Deni Atkinson was declared cancer free after her tumour was removed by US surgeons and now she continues to give back to the foundation that supported her.

Ms Atkinson was diagnosed with Craniopharyngioma, a benign but invasive tumour in her brain, when she was in Year 10.

“It came as quite a shock, usually kids who have that show a lot of symptoms,” she said.

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“The only reason we picked it up is that I stopped growing and so I did an MRI.”

Ms Atkinson travelled to Jacksonville in Florida for Proton Therapy, a new treatment in the US, and was declared cancer free in September 2014.

The 21-year-old is now a volunteer mentor for the Kyle Andrews foundation, a charity that organises annual camps to Broome for children at Princess Margaret Hospital.

The Foundation will be celebrating 21 years of operation at their November 25 fundraiser, with food and entertainment from Broome musicians and WAAPA students.Now in her second year of studying nutrition at Curtin University, Ms Atkinson still contributes to the foundation, which sent her to camp in 2014.

“It really helped me so much in making new friends and it was my first holiday away from my family post treatment,” she said.

“As part of the 21st celebration, it would be amazing to have a massive reunion and have all the former camp kids there.”

THE ESSENTIALS

WHAT: Broome by the Bay WHERE: Mounts Bay Sailing Club, Pelican Point, Crawley WHEN: Sunday, November 25 TIME: 4pm – 8pm TICKETS: $20 for children, $40 for adults and $100 for family tickets.

Visit www.kyleandrewsfoundation.com.au