ROWAN’S WALK FAMILY RALLIES BEHIND TEEN FACING RARE LUNG CANCER

Rowan Dann and his brother Levi

BY TANGIORA HINAKI

The family behind Rowan’s Walk for suicide prevention is once again facing heartbreak, this time supporting 17-year-old Levi who has been diagnosed with an aggressive and extremely rare cancer.

Levi’s aunty, Trish Maher, said the teenager has been given the devastating news that he has a 10-centimetre tumour in his upper lung.

“He’s just recently been diagnosed with a rare and aggressive cancer. It’s called lung sarcoma. It’s so rare that most doctors never see a case like this in their entire careers,” Ms Maher said.

Doctors have told the family that Levi’s condition does not behave like typical cancers — it grows quickly and spreads silently. There are no standard treatments available.

A FAMILY KNOWN FOR RAISING AWARENESS

The Maher family is already well known across Western Australia after Levi’s older brother, Rowan, started Rowan’s Walk in Hedland several years ago. The annual walk from Port Hedland to South Hedland promotes suicide prevention and reminds people that “you are enough” and that help is always available.

The walk was born from the family’s own painful experiences of losing loved ones to suicide. Now, they are once again drawing on community strength as they face another crisis.

STRUGGLING TO COPE

Trish said Levi’s mum is under enormous pressure, trying to keep the family afloat while caring for her son through hospital stays and treatment.

“My sister is doing everything she can to hold it together, but just the financial strain, it’s crushing. She’s at risk of losing her rental home, the bills are piling up, and she needs to be fully present for her son — not buried under the weight of survival,” she said.

To help ease the burden, the family has launched a GoFundMe campaign.

HOW TO SUPPORT

Trish said the community can help in many ways — financially or otherwise.

“What we’re asking for is just prayers, shares, and support. Please keep him in your prayers, share the GoFundMe link. Every share helps, every dollar counts and every prayer matters,” she said.

“For all those who have donated, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”

The fundraiser is available at: Help a Brave 17-Year-Old Fight a Rare Lung Sarcoma.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-a-brave-17-year-old-fight-a-rare-lung-sarcoma