Summer Tapping on her fundraising run for cancer research

Inspired by her dad’s own fight against cancer, the daughter of a popular AFL assistant coach has found her own “perfect” way to help support those in their own battle.

Summer Tapping (R) with her dad Dale. Pictures: Archivist Media

Summer Tapping felt it was the “perfect” way to thank her dad.

Summer’s dad, former VFA star and long-serving AFL assistant coach Dale Tapping, was diagnosed with Myeloma Disease in early 2023.

He was forced to step away from his role at Essendon at the time but has since returned.

Summer, a keen runner, saw the Run Melbourne event and used it as a chance to raise funds for her dad’s illness.

“With everything that had happened, it really put a lot of things into perspective,” Summer, 18, said.

“I had wanted to do something for a while but I wasn’t sure what and then I saw the Run Melbourne stuff and that you could do fundraisers – I thought it fit perfectly.

“It tied into running which was a big part of my life growing up, I thought it was perfect.”

Summer Tapping.

Summer said seeing her dad cheer her on at a sporting event was something every family should enjoy.

“He’s a big part of my life and being a sporty kid growing up, and with his job, we were very close,” she said.

“Watching how cancer and treatment impacted my dad both physically and mentally was very confronting, but it allowed me to realise how quickly life can change and to never take the people or parts of life you love for granted.

“Knowing that there are so many other Australians receiving life changing diagnoses and battling cancer physically and mentally is a gut-wrenching thought.

“This drove my desire to make any beneficial change I can for Australians battling cancer.”

Summer raised over $3000 independently before she ran on July 21.