Pride of Australia: Cancer victim’s mum battles on to raise funds to find cure

PRIDE OF AUSTRALIA: CANCER stole Melissa Carr’s daughter from herbut she remains determined to find a cure for the deadly disease.

Eight-year-old Charlie Carr with mum Melissa at home in Newcastle. Picture by Peter Lorimer

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CANCER stole Melissa Carr’s daughter from her 16 months ago but the Lake Macquarie mother remains determined to find a cure for the deadly disease.

Charlie Carr was just eight when she died from neuroblastoma after such a short lifetime of treatment and relapse.

Mrs Carr emerged from the darkest depths of grief focused on making a difference.

“We were living on hope ­towards the end, hope of finding a cure for Charlie and for other kids as well,” Mrs Carr said.

NOMINATE SOMEONE FOR PRIDE OF AUSTRALIA HERE

“I know Charlie would want a cure to be found, so I am doing it for her in the hope that when I see her again I can tell her, ‘Yay, we did it’.”

Mrs Carr has been nominated for the 2016 Pride Of Australia Medal, proudly supported by Clubs NSW for her work raising money for cancer research.

Campaigner Melissa Carr out the front of the “Build for a Cure” house, a building project in Lake Macquarie to help raise more funds. Picture: Peter Lorimer

Even in the thick of Charlie’s treatment, Mrs Carr and her family­ were helping to raise tens of thousands of dollars, and momentum has increased since Charlie’s death.

Mrs Carr bravely shared Charlie’s story for a Children’s Cancer Institute campaign that raised $350,000, and recently became spokeswoman and ambassador for Charlie’s Run 4 Kids, a charity named in her daughter’s honour which raises money to support other families going through a similar journey with childhood cancer.

She and husband Brett, a bricklayer, have both also been integral to this year’s Build For A Cure — building a house in 21 days and donating the proceeds of the sale to the Children’s Cancer Institute.

Brett and Melissa Carr, with son Tom, from Dudley, in their Team Charlie shirts. Picture: Peter Clark

“Charlie taught me so much about strength, resilience and courage.”

Mrs Carr also now volunteers at Ronald McDonald House at the John Hunter Children’s Hospital, Newcastle, after seeing how crucial that service was during Charlie’s treatment.

The family’s loss still hurts every day but it also galvanises Mrs Carr’s determination.

“It’s often in the most difficult times you learn the most,” she said.

“Charlie taught me so much about strength, resilience and courage.

“I think about her every day and how even when she had chemotherapy she’d get up and go to school — you could never keep that little girl down for long.

“She loved life and she would be so sad and disappointed if I stopped living my life because she’s not here.”

HOW TO NOMINATE

Do you know somebody inspiring who is worthy of recognition? Show them how much their actions matter to you by nominating them for the prestigious Pride of Australia Medal.

Find out more HERE

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