Community rallies around young dad facing cancer battle

WHEN  her husband ­Michael found a lump in his neck just before Christmas, Louise Dowd wasn’t too concerned.

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WHEN  her husband ­Michael found a lump in his neck just before Christmas, Louise Dowd wasn’t too concerned.

“I thought it was a ­swollen gland or a cyst,” Mrs Dowd said.

But a biopsy revealed the awful news that the 35-year-old Dee Why father of two had an ­aggressive form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

The cancer had already spread to his stomach and bowels.

Michael Dowd with wife Louise, son Jack and daughter Abby.

“It was just devastating,” Mrs Dowd said.

The family are comforted by the fact that doctors say Mr Dowd should respond well to treatment.

But the cancer has turned the family’s life upside down. Mr Dowd has to take at least six months leave from his job as a labourer to have chemotherapy.

Fortunately, the northern beaches community is rallying to help. Over the next two Saturdays, friends and family will be selling children’s books and water bottles to raise money to support the family.

The books are from the Billy’s Boatshed series written and donated by family friend Aimee Aitkins and all profits will go to the Dowds.

Ex Wiggles member Sam Moran launched the Billy's Boatshed books in 2012.

“It is amazing how many people help when something like this happens,” Mrs Dowd said.

There will be a fundraising stall outside the ­Bendigo Bank in Freshwater today, from 9am to 1pm, and another stall at North Curl Curl ­Public School, next Saturday, March 28.