Harry’s been a fighter since before his feet even hit the ground.

At an 18-week ultrasound, doctors found a large tumour at the base of Harry’s spine, and following 17 weeks of close monitoring, Harry was born prematurely at 35 weeks.

Doctors found the one-kilogram tumour was impacting Harry’s abdomen and bowel, so at just 3 days old he was flown to the nearest children’s hospital for the first of many surgeries.

After a month in hospital Harry went home with his parents, Brendan and Lauren, though he returned regularly for ongoing appointments and chemotherapy as the tumour continued to regrow.

“Having a child constantly in the hospital can be very isolating on both the children, and parents,” Lauren says as she recalls of being separated from Brendan and younger son Cooper over the years. “Your support systems can become limited because people think ‘oh, they are used to this’, but you simply don’t ever become used to it.”

When Harry was four his health deteriorated and he spent months in hospital as doctors worked to treat him. Eventually it became clear Harry would need a kidney transplant.

At seven years old, Harry received the gift of a lifetime from his dad who donated his kidney to save his son.

“The transplant meant a very lengthy hospital stay away from our home state, and from our youngest son which was so tough. Having Harry and his dad in recovery at the same time was hard on everyone” remembers Lauren.

Though they’ve lost count of the number of surgeries and procedures Harry has endured, and though some issues do remain, the family have hope as his health continues to improve day by day.

During his frequent visits to hospital, Harry really looks forward to his visits to the Starlight Express Room. He loves to watch movies on the big screen, and getting to hang out with special visitors, like footy players and dogs!

Harry’s little brother Cooper also loves the chance to watch movies and play video games, and when he was younger, to get creative with colouring in and word searches.

Starlight has been a saving grace for Lauren and her family as they have endured the highs and lows of Harry’s health journey.

“It’s the days where, as a parent, you have nothing left that Starlight is at its best for us. The distraction and the ‘we’ve got this’ smile that the Captains give are like nothing else. For the children, it’s the sense of normality again that is so desperately needed,”

Today Harry is a very happy, energetic, 15-year-old who loves everything about his life, and everyone he shares it with. Harry is so passionate about life that he jumps at the opportunity raise awareness and support for causes that are important to him.

Motivated by his athletic family and inspired by his hero (aka Dad!), who is a triathlete, Harry has taken on Starlight’s Tour de Kids for the last three years and is keen to hop on his bike again for the 2023 challenge.

“I've spent a lot of time using the Starlight rooms,“ says Harry “so I joined Starlight's Tour de Kids Challenge to fundraise for sick kids just like me.”

Harry’s very first goal was to raise $1,100 which was $100 for each year that he had been alive and having fun with Captain Starlight in the Starlight Express Room.

While this was a hugely inspiring goal, Harry’s friends and family rallied around him to help him smash his target! In his first year of riding Tour de Kids, Harry rode over 200km and raised an incredible $8,000 to support sick kids in hospital.

So far Harry has raised an out of this world $12,362.60, which has helped 317 other sick kids experience the fun and laughter of the Starlight Express Room that Harry loves so much. We can’t wait to see what Harry does next!!