The memory of daughter Neve spurs Kelly Evans to help Fight on the Beaches
Freshwater nurse Kelly Evans has been involved in Fight on the Beaches (FOTB), a fundraising charity established to help find a cure for cancer, for the last nine years.
The group was formed by eight Northern Beaches women whose personal stories united them with the common goal of fighting cancer and getting the resources to fund Australian cancer research.
Collectively, they operate Fight for a Cure, a not-for-profit entity that has funded 13 research projects, established six cancer screening clinics, and co-founded a clinical trials administrator at Northern Beaches Hospital.
Kelly joined after her four-year-old daughter, Neve Brady, died of leukaemia in 2014. From when Neve was diagnosed in 2012, she was in and out of hospital for treatment.
“It was the loneliest time of my life,” Kelly remembers. “At the time of her diagnosis, we were away on holiday, and she hadn’t been well for a couple of days. And we were told that it was tonsillitis. And two days later, it went from tonsillitis to leukemia. We were ‘medivacked’ to Randwick Children’s Hospital, and that’s where we stayed for 18 months.”
Neve’s treatment included a bone marrow transplant from her older brother Eli while Kelly was giving birth to her third child.
“Eli was having an operation to have his bone marrow extracted (while) I was downstairs having a baby. Neve was on the ward getting ready to have stem cells from Eli. We were all in hospital together. It was a nightmare. It was frightening. It was terrifying. And I just have big hopes that nobody else finds themselves in a position like my family did.”
After attempting all possible treatments, Neve passed away at Bear Cottage in Manly.
“The truth is the bone marrow did work. However, sometimes the treatment isn’t enough. It just doesn’t work. We need to find out why we need to improve treatment and we just need to find a cure.”
To Kelly, the best way to deal with her loss and make the name of her daughter ‘live forever,’ was by giving back.
“I give back in her name. I keep her alive by absolutely wanting everybody who gets a cancer diagnosis to get a bigger hope of survival. That’s how I deal with (her passing).”
Kelly started an initiative in May with FOTB to supply care packages for cancer patients, like the one she and her husband received while in hospital with Neve.
“I actually said to the social worker at the time, ‘No, thank you. This isn’t real. I don’t want it.’ And as soon as the diagnosis started to sink in, the hospital became our home for a week.
“We wanted that bag back because it was a way of knowing that we were not alone. It had beautiful little things inside it that we actually did need because we were unexpectedly thrown into this horrible nightmare. And it was a real comfort.”
“I hope that we are able to make a really good contribution to kicking cancer’s butt.”
So far, Kelly and Fight on the Beaches have delivered 50 cancer care packs to the Northern Beaches Hospital, prepared with the help of Belle Property Northern Beaches. The packs include soft blankets, books, personal care products, notebooks and treats to provide comfort and practical support to patients during their treatment journey.
“There are people in hospital right now that are given this diagnosis. And I don’t want them to feel as lost or lonely as I did. We put in a card that says: ‘With all of our thoughts and prayers,’” Kelly explains.
This year marks the organisation’s 10th anniversary, and to celebrate, FOTB is bringing back its ‘Fight on the Beaches Christmas in July Gala Ball,’ which was suspended during COVID-19.
“We need to get a hundred per cent cure rate, and that’s the bottom line,” says Kelly. “I want to give people hope because for 18 months I had hope and I’m thankful for that. I hope that we are able to make a really good contribution to kicking cancer’s butt.”
The ball will be held on 26 July at Miramare Gardens in Terrey Hills, and the goal is to exceed the $3 million fundraising mark that will go to a researcher in oesophageal cancer at the North Foundation.
For ticket purchases and further information, visit fightonthebeaches.com