The Mills and French family would like to invite you to join them at Gungahlin Lakes Golf Club on Friday 22nd March 2024 in support of the Children's Tumour Foundation and families impacted by neurofibromatosis (NF).
Gungahlin Lakes is Canberra's newest course - surrounded by lakes and creeks, with water featuring on many of the holes, particularly on the back nine.
What to expect
Playing in teams of four, you will play 4 person Ambrose, with no handicaps and burglar free. You can enjoy tea & coffe on arrival, followed by 18-holes and finishing with lunch, prizes and presentations.
Each team of 4 will receive a goodie bag and a custom designed golf shirt.
WHAT ARE YOU PLAYING FOR?
The youngest member of the family, Skye was diagnosed with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) by the time she was 2 months old. This golf day has been organised in her honour.
NF is a genetic condition that causes tumours to form on nerves in the body, including the brain and spine. It can lead to a range of significant health issues, including deafness, blindness, physical differences, bone abnormalities, learning difficulties, chronic pain and even cancer.
It is unpredictable, progressive and there is no cure.
The Children's Tumour Foundation is the only patient advocacy and support services for families impacted by this devastating condition in Australia.
Being diagnosed at quite a young age, NF has had a huge impact on Skye’s life and also the people around her. For Mum Tara, it has been hard seeing her daughter struggle with her development and see the frustration she gets when she struggles to do things.
"When she is trying to tell us something and we can’t understand exactly what she is saying, it takes a toll on you as parent", says Tara.
In her first two years, she wasn’t developing as quickly as other kids. She didn’t start crawling until she was almost a year old and she only started walking a month and a bit before she turned two.
Skye has had multiple MRI’s at the Canberra Children’s hospital to monitor the growth of a tumour that was found behind her right eye. And like most parents watching a child go under anaesthetic, it is very overwhelming.
NF can affect anyone regardless of age, ethnicity or gender, with 50 per cent of cases arising in families with no history of the condition.
We need your help to improve understanding of the signs and symptoms of NF, to share the stories of real people affected by the condition and raise much needed funds.
Every 3 days a child is born with NF in Australia and they will need a lifetime of support.