Cancer survivor Maddison Challen leads Children’s Hospital Easter Appeal

A young Bundaberg battler who suffered a suspected broken leg that ended up being a vicious cancer has won hearts for her positive outlook and will become the face of an important annual appeal.

Maddison Challen has become the official Central Queensland ambassador of the Children’s Hospital Foundation Easter Appeal.

What began as a suspected broken leg for fun-loving 11-year-old Maddison Challen quickly turned into the most intensive health journey of her young life.

But this little fighter is using her unwavering spirit to rally support for Queensland’s sickest children.

The Bundaberg girl first presented to a hospital with what her family suspected was a broken leg, before she was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, which is a cancer of the soft tissue, connective tissue or bone.

Maddison and her family travelled to the Queensland Children’s Hospital for treatment, facing a scary and uncertain future.

“We were thrust into a reality we could have never imagined, feeling scared and unsure about what the future held for Maddison,” mum Vanessa Challen said.

Despite the weight of a cancer diagnosis, little Maddison kept her spirits high and overcame the challenges of sepsis to walk again all while transitioning in and out of school.

Ms Challen credited the hospital’s positive environment and the Children’s Hospital Foundation for supporting her daughter’s inner sunshine, and allowing her to remain a child despite the pressures of a cancer diagnosis.

“Children’s Hospital Foundation’s work is such a joy as it allows your child to be able to regain some of the fun of being a child that is not usually present in a hospital setting,” she said.

“There is nothing more heartwarming in life than seeing your child smiling despite all that is happening.”

As Maddison and her family undergo a new type of journey, one free of cancer but still navigating the effects of her treatment, Maddison has been named as an ambassador for the Children’s Hospital Foundation Easter Appeal in Central Queensland.

The appeal will ensure all donations to the Children’s Hospital Foundation made at Central Queensland Woolworths stores will go towards the Queensland Children’s Hospital to continue to support and uplift little ones like Maddison.

Maddison Challen’s bright and bubbly energy has become a beacon for the Children’s Hospital Foundation Easter Appeal.

Since the initiative was launched in 2016, Woolworths customers have raised more than $415,000 through the Easter appeal.

Children’s Hospital Foundation chief executive Lyndsey Rice said she was excited Woolworths was playing a role in ensuring the appeal continued and sick Queensland children got the care they needed.

“Through shopping at Woolworths this Easter, you can make a genuine difference in the care and treatment that children and their families receive at the Queensland Children’s Hospital each and every day,” she said.

“Whether you live in Cairns, Mount Isa or Bundaberg, we want Queensland families to know that their child will receive the best possible care and treatment when facing the unimaginable.”

She is calling on shoppers to add just $2 to their weekly checkout, with the funds going to support about 2366 inpatient admissions, 17,874 outpatient admissions and 745 emergency department presentations from children across Central Queensland.

Woolworths customers will be able to purchase a $2 egg-shaped wall token or donate to the Children’s Hospital Foundation at all Woolworths stores across Central Queensland until April 2 or donate directly to the Children’s Hospital Foundation here.