Alex's fight inspires airbase

Alexandria Rose Thomas with her father Sergeant Pete Thomas, and Sergeant Korey McGregor, who is running 60km in Relay for Life.

Sarah Keayes

WHEN cancer struck Pete Thomas’ daughter Alexandria, he felt like his world had been shattered.

The five-year-old was diagnosed with a rare form of kidney cancer known as Wilms Tumour when she was four-and-a-half years old, after her mother Mariann noticed a lump under her rib cage.

The RAAF Base Amberley Sergeant said his little girl endured six weeks of chemotherapy before having her right kidney removed, as well as additional courses of radiation and chemotherapy once the organ had been taken out.

Sgt Thomas said the diagnosis had a lasting impact, even affecting the family’s youngest child, three-year-old Robyn.

“We look at Robyn and we just think ‘is she hiding something?’” Sgt Thomas said.

“The fear never goes away.

“The diagnosis is just earth shattering.”

RAAF Amberley Sergeant Korey McGregor said given the family’s battle, this year’s Relay for Life event would take on even more of a special emphasis for the 10-person strong RAAF team.

Sgt McGregor said the memory of his father Colin, who passed away close to nine years ago after being diagnosed with lung and throat cancer, also drove him on.

“My father passed away from cancer, so it is a big thing for me to raise money and awareness as much as I can,” he said.

The Cancer Council Queensland Ipswich branch member will cover close to 60 kilometres during this year’s event, running 150 laps in honour of the city’s 150th birthday.

“Having people like my dad and Alexandria, it makes it easy to run the distance,” Sgt McGregor said.

“You have something that is pushing you through.”

Relay For Life is a statewide event involving teams of 10 to 15 people walking around a track for 18 hours, to celebrate cancer survival and raise funds for Queensland cancer patients.

The event will be held at Jim Finimore Oval, Old Toowoomba Road, Leichhardt, on Saturday, March 27.

To register visit www.relayforlife.org.au.