As many of you may now be aware on Thursday 21st July we received the news that no parent or family wants to hear, our beautiful nephew Riley was told that he had Leukaemia. The news has absolutely broken us. Riley has endured many tests since early Thursday morning and it has since been confirmed that our beautiful Riley has T-Cell acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (T-ALL).

Riley is a kind soul that lives for his sports and his family. He is an active member in so many sporting groups, playing football with Woori Yallock Football club, domestic basketball with Mount Lilydale Lakers and Representative basketball with Sherbrooke Suns. During the summer months Riley also manages to squeeze in some cricket with Launching Place Cricket Club. He absolutely enjoys every part of any sport.

Riley is a kind-hearted soul and adores spending time with his siblings, Jacob, who is only 7 years old and Abi is just an innocent 4 years of age. He is adored by his cousins, playing many games of basketball, footy and cricket with them all after school and on weekends.

This has hit his family hard, with both his parents understandably right by his bed side since the devasting news. His dad, Chris is a builder and has not been at work since Riley was diagnosed. Julie, his mum is a Kinder teacher and just like Chris has not left Riley’s side since the diagnoses.

As family we have set up the GoFundMe page in order to try and provide some financial support to their family as they begin the long road ahead.

Riley is about to begin Chemotherapy in the coming days, which will mean more time away from work and their other children Jacob and Abi, for both Julie and Chris as they understandably support Riley through this difficult time. The road is going to be long and hard one but we have every faith that Riley is going to beat this in true Riley fashion with a fight, high spirits and a positive attitude.

They say it takes a village to raise a child and we now call upon that village to help support this amazing family through what is going to be a long and difficult time, full of ups and downs and so much emotion. We understand that times are tough for families at the moment but any kind of financial support that can be given will help ensure Julie and Chris can breathe and not worry about the never-ending household bills and focus on Riley, given both parents the opportunity to take time off work and not stress about sick leave or ensuring the income keeps coming in and remain focused on supporting Riley. This is a family that never ask for anything, they are there for anyone who needs help, they are active in all their children’s sporting worlds, volunteering when they can. Its now time to come together and ensure Riley is given the best possible outcome for recovery and have his parents around him at all times. This family are your typical young family who work hard, but are your typical struggling aussie family and any kind of relief we can give them to take that financial pressure off them is going to allow their full attention to be on Riley and his siblings.

Thank you

Monica & Josie