A brave Logan City local, who has recently beaten leukaemia, has now become the local ambassador for Woolworths Easter Fundraising Appeal to raise funds for Logan Hospital.
Just after her sixth birthday, eight-year-old Matilda Taduran began feeling unwell, and as there were no specific symptoms, her parents believed she had a virus.
A few weeks went by, and she developed a sore and swollen ankle, began experiencing stomach pains, and her fever spiked. She was then referred to the Queensland Children’s Hospital for testing
Matilda was quickly admitted, and spent the next week undergoing a series of tests with the orthopaedic and rheumatology departments before she was given medication for juvenile arthritis.
It wasn’t until a week later, when Matilda’s pain worsened, that her and her family returned to Queensland Children’s Hospital, where further testing revealed that Matilda had Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia.
Her mum, Louise, recalls receiving the news.
“I remember six beautiful hospital staff coming in to speak to me to inform me that there testing had shown a problem with her bone marrow,” she said.
“It wasn’t long after that when a further MRI and bone marrow aspirate confirmed that Matilda had B Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia.
“It felt like someone had pulled the rug out from underneath us, and there was no time to take in the diagnosis, as treatment had to start immediately.”
Matilda has bravely gotten through her treatment, and is now in remission, having recently celebrated being one-year cancer free, after she had her final chemotherapy treatment on 11 January 2020.
She’s now sharing her story to help raise funds for sick kids just like herself, as part of Woolworths Easter Fundraising Appeal.
Since 2016, local Woolworths customers have helped raise more than $184,000 for the Logan Hospital through the annual Appeal.
Children’s Hospital Foundation CEO, Rosie Simpson, said that it’s thanks to the Woolworths teams and their customers generosity that the Foundation can help Queensland’s sickest kids.
“Money raised through this campaign enables us to fund vital medical research, life-saving medical equipment, and patient and family-support services at Logan Hospital for sick kids and their families,” Ms Simpson said.
“It’s amazing what a community can do when they come together, and a simple $2 donation during a shop in-store or online at Woolworths can make the most incredible, resounding impact on a family who are going through an incredibly tough time, or a kid who is facing the fight for their life.”
Chris Peters, Woolworths General Manager Queensland said: “We continue to be humbled by the kindness and ongoing support of our Queensland customers and the impact their donations can have on initiatives such as the Children’s Hospital Foundation.
“The Easter Fundraising Appeal is a great example of how a little good can go a long way for those who need it most and make a real difference to the lives of hundreds of kids and their families, just like Matilda.”
Logan City locals can support the Easter Fundraising Appeal by simply adding a $2 Easter egg shaped wall token to their Woolworths shop, or by making a donation in-store or online, until April 6.
