Ten-year-old Kyen’s footy card collection is so large that it would be the envy of any AFL fan.
He started his collection when he was just three and his grandmother bought him a packet.
“I really got into them and started collecting,” he shared.
Last year, Kyen’s aunty passed away from cancer, and his beloved grandfather Billy (whom the family affectionately dubs ‘Grumpy’) was diagnosed with throat cancer.
That’s when Kyen decided he wanted to do something.
“I wanted to stop cancer so I started to sell my footy cards to stop cancer,” explained Kyen.
He set up a stall outside his family’s shop in Trafalgar. There he sat serving customers and selling footy cards. He ended up smashing his original goal of $1,000; raising an incredible $6,143. This meant he qualified for a research award, which will be funding research into low survival and rare cancers.
“I hope my fundraising will save someone and that cancer is going to be extinct by 2035,” said Kyen.
Kyen with sister Piper, who helped by sorting the cards while her brother made sales.
Fast forward to October 2018
Kyen and his family recently came down to Melbourne to visit a cancer research lab. There he got to learn about the vital work that takes place there, and how fundraising ensures this work can continue.
“It was really interesting,” said Billy. “Just to meet the people behind the scenes who are working hard to try and find the cure”
“It reinforced the good that he’s done,” said mum Sarah. “It showed that it doesn’t matter if you’re seven, if you’re 10 or if you’re 50 or if you’re 80, if everybody does their little bit, we can find a cure for this.”
Associate Professor Jeremy Millar is Director of Radiation Oncology at Alfred Health and Chair of Cancer Council Victoria’s board. He was delighted to meet Kyen and was pleased to present him with his research award.
“It’s an incredible thing that Kyen’s done, raising money for cancer research,” said Associate Professor Millar. “He’s on track to really make a difference to the Australian community.”
Like Kyen, you can raise money for a cancer-free future. You can fundraise to stop cancer today.
