Brisbane personal trainer Lesley Taukamo-Hills fights cancer diagnosis
A tight knit Brisbane gym community is rallying behind one of their favourite personal trainers after a heartbreaking diagnosis came to light when the fit footy player suddenly couldn’t stand.
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A tight knit Brisbane CBD gym community has rallied behind one of their beloved personal trainers after he was admitted to hospital and diagnosed with an aggressive cancer.
Goodlife gym on Elizabeth St in Brisbane has been left devastated after one of their most popular personal trainers, Lesley Taukamo-Hills, 26, of Fortitude Valley, received a life changing diagnosis.
Mr Taukamo-Hills moved to Brisbane from New Zealand about four years ago. Since then he has built a successful life and career, however all of his family is still in New Zealand.
On Tuesday, May 2, after months of ongoing illness and various GP visits, Mr Taukamo-Hills, affectionately known as ‘Les’ or ‘Big Les’, was admitted to the Royal Brisbane Hospital.
His best friend Shaden John-Antony Dowd — a former Sunnybank Dragons rugby union teammate — said he starting to really worry about his friend’s health.
The pair have known each for two years, trained together to become personal trainers, and both worked together at the CBD Goodlife gym.
“After a week of being unable to stand, he went to hospital and after numerous tests he has been diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia,” Mr Dowd said.
“He is currently in Royal Brisbane hospital, fighting an infection, which is causing concerns with his heart and delaying his cancer treatment.
“The doctors said he’d run out of white blood cells and if we’d left it much longer he probably would have died.
“He was in a pretty bad way and it was even worse than we thought. He’s even braver and tougher than I thought.”
Terrified for his best friend, Mr Dowd said doctors still didn’t know how bad the cancer was.
“We don’t know what stage or whether it’s terminal,” he said.
“He starts chemotherapy today (Wednesday, May 24) where they’re trialling two different drugs to see how his body reacts.
“He’s really scared but being brave. He’s been a lot better and supported since we raised money and got his mum and aunt here.”
His mother and her sister arrived in Brisbane last Friday, with the help of his local gym community who rallied together to raise money on a GoFundMe campaign created by Mr Dowd.
“Big Les, a PT, a best mate, a brother, a fun loving and caring friend needs our help,” Mr Dowd said.
“His expenses are already piling up and will only increase over the coming months, compounded with the fact that he won’t be able to work.
“Les is not one to ask for help, but he and his family could use some massive support to help him get through one of the hardest workouts he’ll ever do.”
Mr Dowd said he was blown away by the support of their community.
The campaign has already raised more than $10,000.
“Everyone from the gym has been visiting to show their support which has meant a lot. He’s really popular and well known at the gym … everyone there loved him,” Mr Dowd said.
“He’s a really fun dude. He just gels well with everyone and all of his clients love him. He’s a really nice, caring guy.
“It’s been pretty awesome how the go fund me just took off. It’s been amazing how the gym community has come together which means a lot to him and his family.”
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