Peachy Bretherton fundraiser launched after tumour discovery

A “beautiful giving little girl”, Peachy was her usual cheeky self and dancing the day before a large tumour was discovered on her spine.

Byron girl Peachy Bretherton was dancing one day and barely able to walk the next.

Doctors recently found a large tumour impacting on her spine.

Peachy and her mum, Brooke Bretherton, are now faced with a tough situation.

“She was dancing the day before and then the next day, she couldn’t walk properly,” Ms Bretherson said.

“It looked like she was in a lot of pain.”

The next day she sought medical help and the tumour was subsequently found.

Peachy has since had scans and a biopsy and sadly, it has been confirmed the tumour is cancerous.

Peachy Bretherton with her mother, Brooke. Peachy, who turns two in October, has a tumour that's sitting on her spine. A fundraiser to help her family has raised almost $70,000 in less than two days. Picture: Contributed

“It’s quite a large tumour,” Ms Bretherson said.

“It’s kind of wrapping around her pelvis (and) pushing on her spine and her sciatic nerve so she can’t really walk.”

Tragically, they lost Peachy’s father, Joel, to a brain tumour just over a year ago.

Dealt another blow and knowing, Ms Bretherton said she was bracing to face the situation with her daughter.

“I just need to be at peace with what’s about to come at me and I need to give everything to my daughter and make her feel okay and safe,” she said.

Peachy Bretherton with her late father, Joel. Picture: Contributed

Incredibly, a GoFundMe page set up to help them through this time has amassed more than $70,000 in donations in under two days.

The amount raised surpassed the $50,000 goal in under a day and is still climbing.

Individual donations have spanned from $10 to $5000.

Ms Bretherton said this huge support would take away from the stress of navigating this challenge as a single mum.

“I feel like with the way the world is at the moment, everyone feels so far apart,” she said.

“It’s those sort of touchpoints and connections that make you go ‘okay, we are all in this together’.”

People she doesn’t know have been reaching out to drop off toys and food hampers in Brisbane.

Peachy Bretherton is facing a tough medical challenge, but the community has rallied behind her. Picture: Contributed

Ms Bretherton said they were “incredibly lucky” to be granted a Queensland border exemption.

Still paying rent on her Byron home, she has now been paying for accommodation near the Brisbane Children’s Hospital so the fundraiser will go a long way to ease the financial strain.

She said the money would support their accommodation and treatment and the level of support had “floored” and “humbled” her.

“It’s really hard to know exactly how long we’re going to be up here now,” she said.

While frustrated by the excruciating pain she has been experiencing, she said Peachy was typically a “sassy”, “cuddly” and loving girl.

“She loves dancing she loves music,” she said.

“She’s just a beautiful giving little girl; she’s kind, she’s also really strong.”

Peachy Bretherton has been described as a “beautiful giving girl”. Picture: Contributed

Ms Bretherton’s friend, Alanna North, set up the GoFundMe page and has been blown away with the response.

“We were excited when it got to $1000,” Ms North said.

“There are some bigger donations which is amazing but the majority of that money has come from smaller donations … it’s just people giving what they can.”

In the face of a heartbreaking situation, she said it was amazing to see the Byron community rally behind her friend.

Some donations have also come from further afield, she said.

Peachy Bretherton during an outdoor adventure. Picture: Contributed

“It’s just great to know she can now just concentrate solely on Peachy getting better and not worry about the things back home and bills,” she said.

“It is remarkable; I just can't believe the momentum … I can’t stop the speeding train.”

Ms North said Peachy was a “cheeky” “free spirit” with “her own little personality” and is “always happy”.

At the time of publication, the fundraiser had amassed $71,876 from more than 1100 donors.

You can donate here.