A family and their loved lost one's school has joined in supportive spirit to do one thing - lots of laps for Levi.
Burraneer Bay Public School staff and children have formed a team in Sutherland Shire Relay for Life in memory of former pupil, Levi Wheeler, who was in year 2 when he died age 8 in December last year.
BBPS Laps for Levi will be in honour of the little boy who was a ray of sunshine.
Levi had battled diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) - the deadliest of all childhood cancers. The brain tumour has limited treatment options and survival rates are about nine months.
Levi was diagnosed five days before Christmas in 2017.
"It was terminal on diagnosis and we were given a year. We got a heartbreaking year and 10 days. He was incredibly brave, right until the end," his mother Kathryn Wakelin said.
Despite being part of two clinical trials and months of daily radiotherapy, which did shrink the tumour for about six months, Levi fought on. He was able to enjoy some fun family holidays.
"We had some amazing family holidays in Dubai, where Levi wanted to see and tallest buildings, and in Paris seeing Ronaldo play Real Madrid in the championships league," Mrs Wakelin said.
"His Starlight Foundation wish was to ride in a Lamborghini on the Gold Coast. There were lots of incredible times."
She says 2019 will be a special one, especially since the very recent passing of her son.
"We've done the relay for the past two years, and with my family last year, we went with Levi when he was in treatment for brain cancer," she said.
"He was doing well at that stage and had a great day having fun with his mates, going on rides and trying on wigs.
"The first year we wanted to go part of the school, and now we have even more reason to go. It's all about remembering Levi this year."
Levi's siblings Archie (year 1) and Olivia (year 5), who are also pupils of Burraneer Bay, will also be walking with their mum, dad, teachers and friends.
"They love and miss their brother and they will be excited to be there," Mrs Wakelin said.
"There will be wristbands for sale, a raffle and donuts," Mrs Wakelin said.
"It's such as great day out seeing the community support it with all the school groups. It brings everyone together to raise awareness and money.
"The treatment couldn't help but we're confident in the future it will be a different story.
"The tagling is celebrating and fighting back. We want to have the best day possible. The candlelight ceremony will be emotional...we want to remember him for the awesome kid he was."
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