Family's battle with brain cancer spurs local generosity

From left, Yandina Art and Framing’s Bill Gissane with the Broncos jersey framed for auction and brain tumour survivor Maggie Scott and mum Shirley.

'Only one in ten make it':

by Janine Hill

When a call went out to frame a footy jersey for charity, Yandina Art and Framing answered.

The business framed a signed Brisbane Broncos jersey for auction at a fundraising ball for the Brainchild Foundation, which went at auction for $3500.

The foundation provides emotional, financial and educational support for children with brain and spinal tumours and allocates funding for research into causes and treatments.

Shirley Scott, an occupational therapist, of Palmview, got the jersey signed by hitting up her boss, Rachel Ownsworth, partner of Broncos hooker Billy Walters.

Shirley and her daughter, Maggie, 19, have been supporters of the Brainchild Foundation after Maggie fought and beat brain tumours eight years ago.

At 11, Maggie was diagnosed with an epend- ymoma, a cancerous tumour, and a ganglioglioma, which was benign, after 12 months of headaches that doctors had said were migraines.

Maggie was admitted to the Royal Children’s Hospital within 24 hours of eventually undergoing an MRI scan but the odds were not on her side.

“We were told she’d be blind. We were told she probably wouldn’t survive. Only one in 10 make it,” Shirley said.

Maggie underwent six rounds of surgery plus radiation and not only survived but was fortunate to retain her vision, although she still lives with some after-effects.

Her oncologist, neurosurgeon, clinic nurse and theatre nurse were involved with Brainchild so she and her mum have made it their mission to support the organisation as a way of giving back.

After hustling the signed Bronco’s jersey, Maggie rang 92.7 MIX FM seeking help to frame the jersey.

Framer extraordinaire Charmaine Temple-Smith heard the call over the radio and hit up her boss, Bill Gissane, at Yandina Art and Framing, who agreed they should do it.

At the same time, listener Gayle Jones, of Caloundra, offered to pay for the framing, so the job was done at cost price.

“We’ve just happy to be able to offer our support in a positive way,” Bill said.

Eyeing off the finished product on Friday, Broncos fan Maggie was keen to bid for it herself but said she would not mind if it was out of her price range. “I would be happy if it goes for a lot. That would be amazing. The Brainchild Foundation is amazing.”

Update: Jersey sells at the live auction for $3500

Fittingly it was Maggie’s neurosurgeon, Dr Gert Tolleson, pictured below with Maggie, who made the winning bid on the weekend.

“We had a beautiful night with lots of tears and happiness,” said Shirley.