Loreto College, Prince Alfred College rally behind Lyla Neck’s Children’s Cancer Institute fundraiser after ‘absolute nightmare’ ovarian cancer diagnosis

Fourteen-year-old Lyla Neck was supposed to be celebrating her birthday when an “absolute nightmare” dawned on her family.

Scarlett, Phoebe, Lyla, Tilly, Jemima and Eleanor Neck. Picture: Supplied

Lyla Neck first felt the pain on her 14th birthday on January 7 this year.

It wasn’t severe, just a strange twinge at night, an uncomfortable feeling when she rolled over in bed.

Ten days later, Lyla was undergoing emergency surgery at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital to remove a large, malignant tumour.

Lyla Neck, left, with her cousin Ava and sister Eleanor. Picture: Supplied by Family

Lyla Neck playing football for Mt Lofty District Football Club . Picture: Supplied by Family

At just 14, she has ovarian cancer.

Mum Danielle says it’s been a confronting and difficult few weeks.

“We hear a lot about the silent killer but to hear your child’s got it, it’s not something you ever think you’re going to hear,” she says.

“It’s an absolute nightmare.”

The Neck family are familiar to many in the community.

The family of eight, including six talented daughters, are heavily involved in sport.

Until her diagnosis, Lyla was a member of the Activ8 aerobics club and the Mt Lofty Football Club, training at least three times a week.

Now, she’s facing four intensive cycles of chemotherapy, the second round beginning later this month.

Danielle says with no early detection tests for ovarian cancer, Lyla’s intuition was crucial.

“It was probably only two nights of pain that she had and during the day she was quite fine,” Danielle says.

“We did an online call to the Women’s and Children’s and they directed us to our GP to get an ultrasound.

“We got the result and were told to go straight to hospital.

“The scary thing is, this could have easily remained unknown to us if we hadn’t chosen to go to our local doctor who was so thorough.”

PAC's senior rowing squad after shaving their heads . Picture: Supplied

The tumour was tested and removed. For two agonising weeks, the family waited for results.

The news hit them hard.

“These things are usually benign but unfortunately Lyla’s wasn’t,” Danielle says.

“There was a germ cell tumour hiding inside my child, a rare kind of ovarian cancer called an immature teratoma.

“There are three kinds of tumours it could have been, hers was the third one, the one we didn’t want.”

In the days and weeks that followed, Lyla’s sisters, led by 20-year-old Tilly, hatched a plan.

Together, Tilly, Phoebe, Lyla, twins Scarlett and Jemima, and Eleanor, are a force to be reckoned with.

“It was pretty hard, it just felt like we were living a dream,” Tilly says.

Lyla Neck and her pet lamb Rocco. Picture: Supplied

Lyla Neck has her head shaved, supported by sister Tilly. Picture: Supplied

“I just felt so helpless, so I went online and started a fundraising page.”

What’s happened since is remarkable and heartwarming.

Tilly’s original goal of raising $5000 for the Children’s Cancer Institute has grown to more than $32,800.

The page is the highest fundraiser for the Institute in the country.

“I started the page and literally within the first two hours I think we’d raised like $3000,” Tilly says.

“Here in Australia, 86 kids are diagnosed with cancer each month and I just wanted to focus on those kids going through that.”

Over the next month, 52 of Lyla’s family members and close friends are walking or running 172km each to raise money and awareness for children with cancer.

They were going to clock up 86km, one for every child diagnosed, but decided to double it.

“We’ve got 52 of us running, from Loreto, our old school, from different sporting communities, the Heathfield Netball Club and the Mt Lofty Football Club,” Tilly says.

“My friend Liv is running 14km a day because Lyla is 14.”

PAC's senior rowing squad before shaving their head . Picture: Supplied

PAC's senior rowing squad after shaving their heads. Picture: Supplied

And in a gesture that brought the Neck family to tears over the weekend, 21 boys from Prince Alfred College’s senior rowing squad have shaved their heads in Lyla’s honour.

The move, just days out from the much-anticipated Head of the River meet, will be a powerful reminder of a community uniting for a much-loved teenager.

“Lyla, a year 9 student, has been diagnosed with cancer, and we have all taken action to raise awareness for her and her battle with cancer,” PAC rower Milo Katsaros shared on social media.

“Any support or donation would be greatly appreciated.”

Lyla and her family have been overwhelmed by the support.

“It’s really helping Lyla,” Tilly says.

“She’s got so much reassurance that so many people love her and are all getting behind her.

“With all of this, the messages, the money being raised for cancer, the support has really helped her. She’s in good spirits.”

The money raised by Lyla’s supporters will be lifesaving for others.

The signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer can so often be missed. Abdominal bloating, pelvic pain, feeling full after only eating a small amount, the need to urinate frequently or urgently and lower back pain are symptoms easily dismissed by women.

We desperately need early detection tools and more targeted treatment for patients.

For now, it’s one milestone at a time for Lyla and her family.

The cancer is treatable and while she’s lost her hair, dad Simon says she’s made of tough stuff.

“She’s incredibly brave, she’s a no-fuss sort of kid,” Simon says.

“Watching how everyone’s connecting, she was very overwhelmed. She’s not one that wants a lot of attention.

“For her on this journey, I think the way she’s going to get through it is to try and keep things as normal as possible.”

To donate, head to ccia.org.au/fundraisers/LollysOvarAchievers/86k-for-a-cure

Originally published as Loreto College, Prince Alfred College rally behind Lyla Neck’s Children’s Cancer Institute fundraiser after ‘absolute nightmare’ ovarian cancer diagnosis