Leanne Stewart with the painting by cancer sufferer Matthew Oliver, age 6, which she bought for $575. Photo / Kelly Makiha
When Rotorua’s Leanne Stewart spotted the painting Alien Disco by 6-year-old cancer sufferer Matthew Oliver, she dug in her heels to buy it.
“I’m a big fan of science fiction and aliens, so it really appealed to me.”
Her hand shot up to place the winning bid of $575 and the hammer went down.
Her auction purchase was one of several this morning that helped raise thousands of dollars for the Child Cancer Foundation at the annual EVES Real Estate Rotorua Breakfast Fundraiser.
About 170 people attended the Distinction Rotorua Hotel, where paintings created by child cancer patients were auctioned, among a host of donated prizes.
Stewart, who owns NumberWorks’nWords Tutoring Rotorua, said she bought a painting last year created by one of her students, who had recently returned to getting cancer treatment.
She hung it on the wall inside her business, where she planned to hang Matthew’s Alien Disco painting.
“It’s just such a great cause.”
Matthew’s story was shared at the breakfast. He was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in March 2023 when he was 4.
He’s undergone two and a half years of treatment, including many blood transfusions, chemotherapy, monthly trips to Auckland and many long hours at Rotorua and Starship Hospitals.
He finished his treatment in May and still faces many health, developmental and social challenges. He missed his first year of school due to immune deficiencies but despite his uphill battle, he faces every day with a smile and is the centre of the Oliver household.
This morning’s event began with a story that demonstrated the sobering reality of why the Child Cancer Foundation is so valued.
There was barely a dry eye as Rotorua mum Josie Sturm spoke about her baby daughter, Hazel McLean, who was diagnosed with cancer at 3 and a half months, dying four months later on April 19, 2023.
“She was such a beautiful baby. She never cried, was so placid and was every mother’s dream.”
She noticed bruising on her baby’s arm so took Hazel to the doctor, but was faced with questions about whether someone had abused Hazel.
“He [the doctor] sent us away and said nothing was wrong.”
She said she went back and forward to medical experts during the following six weeks because she knew something was wrong.
“At the last hospital visit, I put my foot down.”
A full body examination revealed a large lump under Hazel’s arm, which was found to be a malignant rhabdoid tumor, a rare and aggressive cancer that mostly affects young children.
She described the difficult months that followed.
“But the Child Cancer Foundation stepped up and was right there for us. Even after a child’s death, they stay with you forever.”
Sturm said that although Hazel’s death was eventually expected, it was still hard to face reality.
“I want to thank the Child Cancer Foundation for all they did ... Hazel and I are an example that the Child Cancer Foundation is true to their word. Without them, I would not have gotten through it.
Sisi Shao from the Child Cancer Foundation told the crowd that four families with young children were given a cancer diagnosis each week in New Zealand.
“Cancer does not care about children, but the Child Cancer Foundation does.”
She outlined the work the foundation did, including providing support to families, organising food packages and firewood and running its Beads of Hope programme.
She said the Child Cancer Foundation needed $6.5 million a year to operate and it didn’t get any government funding.
She said EVES Real Estate in Rotorua started supporting the event in 1994 through what was then McDowell Real Estate and had been by its side now for more than 30 events.
EVES Real Estate marketing and media specialist Dan Fergusson said he was thrilled the event was another success.
“We’re absolutely stoked with this year’s event. Thank you to everyone who joined us this morning for breakfast, bidding, and good old banter.”
The final tally of how much was raised will be known next week.
Kelly Makiha is a senior journalist who has reported for the Rotorua Daily Post for more than 25 years, covering mainly police, court, human interest and social issues.