Corinda mums unite to help Layla Nolan, other cancer survivors

A group of Brisbane mums has vowed to walk hundreds of kilometres this month to help children with cancer like nine-year-old battler Layla Nolan whose symptom was simply a sore elbow.

Last year was tough on Layla, who endured chemotherapy and weekly blood tests. Picture: Supplied

A group of westside mums has vowed to walk hundreds of kilometres this month to help nine-year-old battler Layla Nolan and other children with cancer.

Layla’s grateful mother Kaylah, from Corinda, said the support her family had received from Prep mums, family and friends during her daughter’s treatment had helped them cope with more than a year of hardship.

The drama began just before the start of school last year when Layla complained about a sore elbow.

“At first we thought it was a bit of bursitis. She got antibiotics and to me it seemed to get better, but it came back so we presented to hospital.

“They did some blood tests and that’s when we were told she had ALL (Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia).

“They said ‘can we take you into a private room’. That’s when I knew something was very wrong.

“I was alone, my husband wasn’t with me. It was so hard re-entering the room where Layla had stayed with the nurses, singling to the Wiggles, while putting on a brave face.’’

Big smile from a brave girl.

Weekly blood tests followed, as well as gruelling chemotherapy which caused Layla’s hair to fall out.

She missed a whole year of school and only now has been able to return, about 70 per cent of the time.

“She had to grow up in a hurry. We lost that last bit of babyish time because of the sickness and her trying to understand what the doctors were doing.

“Luckily we’ve had wonderful support from my husband’s family and when my son (Jimmy) started Prep the other mothers were amazing.’’

Layla’s Legends, as they’re now known, have volunteered for this year’s Camp Quality Big Walk for Little Kids.

Kaylah and her Prep mum friends, with Layla, who are walking this month to raise money for Camp Quality.

Now in its fourth year, the event has raised more than $5.5 million and helped about 10,000 Australian families.

Each of the Prep mums has undertaken to walk 100km this month.

“We try to do it in pairs or together if possible. It’s hard to fit in — I get up earlier in the morning and get a few kilometres in or knock off 10km on a Saturday,’’ Ms Nolan said.

Camp Quality has announced six-time Paralympic gold medallist and childhood cancer survivor Ellie Cole as this year’s Big Walk for Little Kids champion.

Big Walk for Little Kids is a virtual event with participants walking, running or rolling 50km, 100km or 150km to raise funds for Camp Quality’s programs and services for kids and families facing cancer. 

Layla is delighted her hair is now growing back.

Participants can sign up online and get friends, family members, school or work mates to sponsor their efforts to help raise funds to give kids and their families a break from cancer. Participants can form virtual teams and track kilometres online using Fitbit or Strava.

Camp Quality CEO Deborah Thomas said Big Walk for Little Kids was a great way to show support for sick children.

“Everyone knows someone impacted by cancer,” Ms Thomas said.

“For children this is a particularly terrifying experience.

“Big Walk for Little Kids raises money to give those kids and their families a break from cancer on our Kids’ Camps and Family Camps.’’

To sign up visit: www.bigwalk.org.au