Briana Van Zijl raises more than $4000k for Cancer Council Qld in memory of her mother Aileen
A Gold Coast nurse is only 21 but she’s already gone through a lifetime of pain after losing her mother to cancer. But it hasn’t stopped her from helping others.
Gold Coast
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BRIANA Van Zijl is only 21 but she’s already gone through a lifetime of pain, losing her mother to cancer.
The Gold Coast based nurse said it’s been a “really, really crap” past year but it hasn’t stopped her from doing everything she can to help others.
She joined hundreds of people around the state for Cancer Council Queensland’s Walk for Women’s Cancers on Saturday morning.
“Mum (Aileen) passed away from cancer last March. I’ve done it in memory of her. Today’s her birthday,” Briana said.
“Mum’s hobby was exercise. She was always out and about running or walking. There was no excuse.
“The fact it’s her birthday and this is her hobby, we couldn’t not do this.
“It’s a really good way to celebrate her, her birthday, raise awareness and try to bring some light to an awful, awful year.”
Briana organised for her sister Jess and dad Ed to walk 20km to Burleigh Hill, dress in pink tutus and holding a speaker playing Aileen’s favourite songs.
“People were cheering and clapping us along. Some stopped to ask what we were doing it for. It was very cool. Mum would be really proud of us,” Briana said.
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Briana raised $4093 which made her the top individual fundraiser for Cancer Council in Queensland.
Gold Coast senior co-ordinator of community engagement of fundraising Suzie Longman said:
“We are really here to encourage women to get their (breast) screens because early detection is the answer.”
The fundraising goes towards Cancer Council Queensland’s services, research and prevention.
One in three Queenslanders are diagnosed with cancer every year. More than 1200 Gold Coasters die from cancer annually.
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