The families who are grateful for Travis Boak’s work behind the scenes
Travis Boak celebrated his 250-game milestone earlier this month but there is another anniversary that is worth celebrating — even though most would not know about it.
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Travis Boak first met Ryan Lane-Ellis days after he had checked into hospital with leukaemia at the age of four.
Eight years on, they’ll be running through Port Adelaide’s banner together.
Ryan, now 12, was at Port Adelaide training at Adelaide Oval on Tuesday morning, running around with Boak and the senior players. It was something he could only dream about when he first met Boak.
They have formed a deep friendship since then, with Ryan remembering how Boak taught him how to handball during his long stays in hospital and cheering him up on a weekly basis.
Ryan has now been in remission for more than five years and his bond with Boak continues, as does that of so many families who have been in contact with Boak since he became a Childhood Cancer Association ambassador 10 years ago.
Boak first joined Childhood Cancer as an ambassador in 2009, when he was 21, on the recommendation of then-SA Governor Kevin Scarce, who had been impressed with Boak after meeting him during a mentorship program Port Adelaide was running.
He called Cath O’Loughlin, the CCA’s chief executive, and put it plainly.
“I think I’ve found a good ambassador for you,” the Governor said.
O’Loughlin was taken aback when she noticed the maturity of Boak, who had already dealt with losing his father, Roger, to cancer the year before he was drafted.
He had made an instant connection with the children and seemed unfazed by the challenging environment of a cancer ward.
“He was 21 and he was just amazing,” O’Loughlin said
“To go in there as a very young man — and that’s such a confronting environment — he was able to connect with them straight away.”
But to Boak, it is a two-way street. The families inspired him just as much as he’d been able to put a smile on the children’s faces.
“It is pretty special; I met Ryan when he was four years old and he had just been diagnosed,” Boak said.
“To see the journey the whole way to now being back to play footy — and he’s playing some good footy; he’s a pretty talented young kid — and be really healthy and running out with him is special.
“We’ve shared our journey and to see him progress and fight a pretty tough battle is pretty inspiring.
“You go into hospital and you see kids with cords coming out of their body and going through a pretty horrific time.
“They go through a lot of pain, but they put a smile on your face when they’re grateful for you coming in and talking to them.
“To see them progress to fight through what no one deserves to go through, especially as a kid, is just so inspiring.
“I’ve taken a lot from all the kids and the families I’ve seen along the way.
“Families sticking together and fighting through it is pretty inspiring.”
One of the patients who was at the Oval to reconnect with Boak recently was Luke Kennedy, 10, who was diagnosed with leukaemia at three years of age and spent the next six months in hospital.
He still remembers how Boak used to brighten the mood when he came to visit. They were difficult times for Luke and his family.
“To see somebody like him find the time was just amazing,” Luke’s mother Sarah said of Boak. “Sometimes it’s hard to get friends and family to pop by, but he was there at least once every week.”
CCA president Chris Hartley, whose son Thomas went through childhood cancer, could not be more grateful to the former Power captain.
He also recalls Boak’s 200th game, when Thomas was invited to run out with the team.
“He’s just an incredible role model,” Hartley said. “Thomas has known him since he was three and I think ‘hero’ is the best word for him.”
The CCA, which provides support for young cancer sufferers and their families, will be Port’s charity partner for the match against the Suns on Sunday. Ryan Lane-Ellis, as Boak’s Buddy, will be at the centre of it.
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