BY ALEX DRISCOLL
The Balmoral Swim raises money to fund research into children’s cancer
In 2024, around 760 children were diagnosed with some form of cancer. While the survival rate is now over 80%, childhood cancer often leads to long-term health complications later in life for two-thirds of children who are diagnosed.
Since 2006, the Balmoral Swim has raised over $2.3 million to fund research into cancer, with an emphasis on childhood cancer in the last few years. The Balmoral Swim supports the Children’s Cancer Institute in its mission to ensure ‘zero deaths from cancer.’
One family that has benefited from the help of the institute is the O’Neils, whose son Jack, eight, was diagnosed with a form of brain cancer. Before he was diagnosed, Jack had been vomiting frequently for three weeks. After presenting to Randwick Hospital with symptoms, a brain tumour was discovered and identified as cancer. Following an emergency operation to remove the tumour, the institute’s ‘Zero Childhood Cancer Program’ (ZERO) immediately came to the family’s aid. It is the only institute that exclusively researches and assists in the treatment of children’s cancer, and in December 2023, its program became open to all children in Australia.
Jack’s mum Tanya said the use of the ZERO program precision medicine meant so much to her son. “We could understand what type (of cancer) it was and what it was classified as.” This allowed doctors to have Jack classified as a high-risk patient because his subtype was ‘super aggressive.’ “We wouldn’t have known that if it wasn’t for all of the research and the progress that the Children’s Cancer Institute has made.”
After 30 brutal sessions of high dosage and targeted chemotherapy, Jack was successfully treated. Though it was not without its impacts, with Jack developing hearing problems and sustaining eye damage. “Our team would use terms like ‘obliterated,’” Tanya recalled, highlighting how chemotherapy destroys cells both cancerous and otherwise in the body. “There is still a 20% chance of the therapy itself potentially causing another form of cancer later in his life.”
The O’Neil family
Since then, Tanya has become an ambassador for the institute and encourages people to get involved with the Balmoral Swim. “(You will be) fundraising for such a worthy charity. I would encourage anybody to take part in something such as the Balmoral Swim because there is an amazing sense of community and some great active moments for them,” Tanya says.
If you wish to participate, registering yourself or your organisation is essential through the event’s website. Once you’ve entered you can then create a profile to raise funds. There are events for all abilities, including a ramp for people with disability and shorter events for younger participants.
If you are not a confident swimmer, you can still show support by donating to competitors and showing up to cheer them on during their races. Dozens of schools enter the exciting school relays and the Navy officers are the ones to watch in the adult event!
Balmoral Swim for Cancer
From 6.15am, 6 April
Balmoral Beach
1km, 2.5km, 5km, relay events
Cost: $40 (1 to 30 March); $60
late entry (1 to 5 April)
balmoralswim.com.au