Peta, Tildy and the Tildy Stories!
Scroll down to read about our new athletics shirts!
Scroll down to read about our new athletics shirts!
Peta Sally Kerr
26th Aug 2007 - 21st Feb 2019
Peta, a happy and talented girl with a love for life, for running, gymnastics, riding and for her family, friends and school, was diagnosed with brain cancer on 26 June 2017, just before her 10th birthday. She endured major brain surgery, six weeks of whole brain and spinal radiation, and four rounds of chemotherapy – all the time working hard to maintain her fitness as much as she was able. She amazed healthcare and support workers with how well she came through it all, and melted hearts with her angelic countenance, and strength of spirit. She finished treatment early in 2018 and was determined to rebuild her strength and balance; before too long she was back competing in cross-country competitions.
Photograph by Gotcha!
Devastatingly, Peta relapsed just over a year after her original diagnosis. A bleed from one of the tumours on her spine resulted in paraplegia. For a girl who once had so much energy and loved to run and to practise her gymnastic skills, the loss of the use of her legs was inordinately cruel. Throughout all this she kept her beautiful smile, always thinking of others before herself, and never complaining. Tragically, just 8 months after she relapsed, Peta lost her battle with cancer.
Tildy the Corgi
To help Peta cope with her treatment, it was decided she could have the puppy that she had always wanted! Of all the dog breeds suggested, Peta had set her heart on getting a corgi. Peta’s Mum contacted many breeders without any success. Fortunately, the last one on the list had just had someone change their mind about a puppy, and that was Tildy! (as Peta named her). She was very timid to start with but as she became more confident, her gentle nature and love of people, children in particular, soon became very evident. Peta absolutely adored Tildy, she brought her so much happiness throughout her illness. Tildy continues to be adored by the rest of the family and Peta’s younger sister, Polly, loves to take care of her on Peta’s behalf. Tildy also provides comfort to the family and a sense of connection to Peta. Tildy is such a special dog, it would not have been possible to find a better four legged friend for Peta than Tildy, she is just perfect!
How The Short Stories of Tildy began…
Peta spent a lot of time away from home and school while she was receiving treatment. She was very concerned about getting behind with her education as she wanted to became a vet and hated the idea of repeating a school year. Because of this, however tired and unwell Peta felt she was always determined to keep going with her school work as best she could. Peta was very talented mathematically, but due to her dyslexia, English was more of a struggle and so it was suggested she write about a topic that interested her. Peta chose to write stories about her beloved dog, Tildy and so The Short Stories of Tildy began! After Peta’s passing her Mum, Kate, decided to work on the stories and publish them in Peta’s memory, as well as to raise money for vital research into childhood cancer.
The acronym PETA (Positive Energy Through Athletics), and the idea of putting it on athletic shirts was originally conceived by Peta’s athletics coach and a fellow squad member for a charity event. Later Peta’s mother ordered more shirts with P.E.T.A for friends and family. They still wear them today and tell us how meaningful and inspiring they are; Peta keeps them going when the run gets hard. This prompted us to set about getting shirts with beautiful designs made in Peta’s favourite colour so that others can also feel inspired to ‘run with the wind’, and experience ‘Positive Energy Through Athletics’!
The story of the athletic shirts…
Peta and her Athletics coach Jay.
Why are PETA shirts so inspirational?
1. Peta endured so much through her 20 month battle against brain cancer, with so much fortitude, gratitude and selflessness, always with a beautiful smile on her face. Peta is truly inspirational and leaves us thinking if she, an 11yr old child, could endure so much, surely we can ‘push through’ to reach our running goals.
2. Peta used ‘Positive Energy Through Athletics’ to come through her initial treatment remarkably well, her doctors and nurses were amazed! Peta exercised throughout radiation and harsh chemo to keep her body, and mind, as fit as possible. She was determined to get back to her running and gymnastics as soon as possible and to give her body every chance to fight the cancer (research indicates that exercise throughout cancer treatment leads to better outcomes). After each round of chemo Peta was only able to run a few hundred metres. By the time the next round was due she would have built up to running 2km. Her Mum would say “I think you have done enough”, Peta would just smile and keep going! Exercise at any stage of life is wonderful for body and mind, creating positive energy, both physical and mental.
3. The purchase of a shirt is very meaningful as all profits are donated to our chosen childhood cancer charities, as well as helping to spread awareness of this utterly devastating disease for which research is hugely underfunded.
4. Run for Peta as she couldn’t! After her relapse she was bedbound due to the paraplegia but she never stopped dreaming of running again. Peta never ran again. The P.E.T.A shirts remind us how lucky we are to be able to run, move and even breath!
Peta winning the small schools cross county
The photoshoots…
It was so very special to have Peta’s friends and family modelling the shirts as well as having Tildy there, enjoying plenty of treats and cuddles. Having these outstanding and special people coming together for Peta, in the lead up to her 16th Birthday, means so much to us!
Childhood cancer and the charities
The profits from Tildy’s Sausage Sensation will be split between Children’s Cancer Institute and The Children’s Brain Cancer Centre. Research into childhood cancer, and specifically childhood brain cancer, is vastly underfunded. Protocols for some childhood cancers have not changed in 30 years, and in that time the number of drugs developed specifically for children’s cancers has been pitifully small compared to the number developed for adults. In terms of life years lost to cancer, in Australia, childhood cancer is second only to breast cancer.
· On average one Australian child dies every nine days from brain cancer.
· On average three Australian children die each week from cancer.
· Globally over 90,000 children (0–15yrs) die annually from cancer (and with an estimated 43% of cases globally going undiagnosed, a great many more deaths are never recorded).
· The incidence rate of childhood cancer in Australia has increased by 34% between 1983 and 2015 (this is mirrored elsewhere).
· Worldwide there are 300,000+ new cases of childhood cancer each year (0–19yrs).
More research is desperately needed to improve these statistics as well as to improve outcomes for survivors. As a result of the very harsh and toxic treatments, the majority of survivors face chronic health conditions and/or severe/life threatening complications.
Children’ Cancer Institute
“‘Children’s Cancer Institute’s ambition is to put an end to childhood cancer and pioneer safer treatments for children through medical research.’”
Children's Cancer Institute | Researching children's cancers (ccia.org.au)
The Children’s Hospital Foundation are proud to fund the Children’s Brain Cancer Centre
Their goal is to improve the survival and survivorship for children with brain cancer.
The Children's Brain Cancer Centre (childrensbraincancer.org.au)
Photograph by Maloney Design Photography
References
B+ Foundation, ‘Important Childhood Cancer Facts and Statistics’: bepositive.org/did-you-know
Children’s Cancer Institute Australia, ‘Cancer in Children – What Do the Global Stats Tell Us?’, 31 January 2021, www.ccia.org.au/blog/cancer-in-children-stats
Children’s Cancer Institute Australia, ‘Opening the Black Box of Childhood Cancer: Results from Australian Personalized Medicine Program’, Medical Xpress, 5 October 2020: medicalxpress.com/news/2020-10-black-childhood-cancer-results-australian.html
Children’s Hospital Foundation, ‘Australia’s only Dedicated Paediatric Brain Cancer Research Centre Receives $500,000 Boost From Golden Casket’, 21 September 2020: www.childrens.org.au/featured-news/australias-only-dedicated-paediatric-brain-cancer-research-centre-receives-500000-boost-from-golden-casket/
Children’s Leukaemia & Cancer Research Foundation: childcancerresearch.com.au
Danny R Youlden et al, ‘The Incidence of Childhood Cancer in Australia, 1983–2015, and Projections to 2035’ (2020) 212(3) Medical Journal of Australia 113: doi.org/10.5694/mja2.50456; accessed via Cancer Institute NSW: www.cancer.nsw.gov.au/about-cancer/document-library/the-incidence-of-childhood-cancer-in-australia-198
Flashes of Hope: flashesofhope.org/
Nick Xenophon, ‘Childhood Cancer – A National Priority’ (Petition): www.change.org/p/independent-senator-nick-xenophon-childhood-cancer-a-national-priority
Olivia Stern, ‘Gold Is the New Pink’, The Observer, 3 September 2020: fordhamobserver.com/50375/opinions/gold-is-the-new-pink/