By BRIDGET COOK
FOR the past three years, 12-year-old Shandelle Russell and her family have been on a rollercoaster ride of emotions.
The young Hastings girl was this year again diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour – the third time since 2011.
This time around, though, the Cranbourne Turf Club has rallied around Shandelle, because her father Trevor Harrap is a track employee, to help lessen the financial and emotional toll the illness has had on the family.
On Wednesday 16 July, the club is hosting a lunch at its race meeting with all proceeds to go towards Shandelle’s treatment.
There will be an auction on the day and two turf club employees, Julie Murray and Jo Wood, will be shaving their heads.
Shandelle’s mother Corinna Russell said the family was grateful for the support it had received.
“It’s very overwhelming, but we are so pleased with the support,” she said.
“We were the type of people that shied away from this type of stuff, we have always said ‘no, we will be alright’.
“But after her treatment last year with radiation, it put us behind the eight-ball and we are working hard to make ends meet.
“So we are so grateful for the great support.”
Shandelle was first diagnosed with a rare brain tumour in 2011, when she was nine-years-old, which was the size of a tennis ball.
She underwent surgery at the Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) to have it removed and surgeons believed they had got it all.
In February last year, Shandelle was again coming home from school with migraines and upon inspection she was found to have another tumour.
She again underwent surgery and then six weeks of radiation.
In May this year, they family got the devastating news that the disease had returned.
“This time the disease had progressed in a different way,” Ms Russell said.
“Instead of being like a tumour lump, it has spread around the edge of her brain so surgery was not an option.
“So she has started chemotherapy.”
Ms Russell said the family was also looking into some genetic testing to see if Shandelle could try a new drug, which had been responding to a particular gene linked to the disease.
Ms Russell said the most recent diagnoses was a massive blow.
“It’s been a shock to the system,” she said.
“But Shandelle tells me she’s going to be alright – she’s got so much spirit.
“So we can only hope that all goes well with the treatment.”
Ms Russell said the money raised from the racing club would go towards a number of things.
“Trevor and I are both working so we can make ends meet, so we haven’t been able to take much time off work,” she said.
“There are a lot of toll fees, parking and petrol costs related to her being in and out of RCH, and some medications that we have to cover on top of everyday expenses.
“We will use it to do things for Shandelle’s enjoyment, so she can live life a bit more.
“It will also go towards her general wellbeing, on treatments like reflexology as she gets a lot of fluid from her treatment.”
Tickets for the fundraising lunch, to be held in the Legends Room at the Cranbourne Turf Club on Wednesday 12 July, will cost $25, which includes a two-course lunch.
To book, call Debbie on 5996 1300.
A trust account has been set up under the name Shandelle Russell for donations. The BSB is 083 294 and the account number is 397056693.
