Walking for Dexter
(Kiama Independent article written by Phil McCarroll - April 3013)
Inspired by his battle with cancer, friends and family of toddler Dexter Heffernan have come together to enter a team in this year's Kiama Relay for Life.
Last Thursday, his family gathered in Hindmarsh Park so members of the community could meet him and donate to his team, "Love Dexter".
Now two years old, Kiama resident Dexter was diagnosed with liver cancer at the age of one and after extensivechemotherapy and surgery, was recently given the all-clear.
Made up of relay rookies, the "Love Dexter" team has already had to revise their projected fundraising total a number of times after a continued outpouring of supprt from the community.
"This is the first time we've gone in the relay and none of us really know what to expect," Lenice Heffernan, Dexter's mother, said.
"To start with we aimed to raise $1000, then we had to move ourtarget up to $1500 and then we had to move it again to $2000. We'll probably have to revise it up again; the support has just been huge."
While the 'Love Dexter' team is comprised of the Heffernans and their friends and family, support has come from all sections of the community.
"The support has come from everywhere, friends and family have been donating as well as people we work with and strangers as well," Mrs Heffernan said.
"The gym I go to, Beach Bodz, has come on board and offered to make us shirts.
"It's really just come from everywhere and we're really grateful.
"We really do want to say thank you.
"The support we've received has been ongoing ever since Dexter was diagnosed. We set up a facebook page and the jokes and things that people posted on there kept us smiling through the diagnosis and treatment.
"So many people have just jumped on board to help us through out it all."
The Heffernans will participate in the Survivors and Carers Walk, the first lap of the relay.
The Kiama Relay for Life will take place at the sporting fields at the Kiama Leisure Centre on May 4-5.
For more information log on to http://relay.cancercouncil.com.au/2013/kiama_relay_for_life/Love-Dexter
Thanks Kiama Independent, Kerrielyn, Phil McCarroll and photographer Dylan Robinson.