Westfield Local Heroes

Zoe is making life less stressful for families living with Neurofibromatosis (NF).

She understands how difficult it can be to navigate the medical system because her daughter Emme was diagnosed with NF a 9 weeks old.

Through her volunteer work with the Children's Tumour Foundation of Australia, Zoe has been a strong and empathetic advocate for families needing specialised support at the Queensland Children's Hospital. 

If Zoe is successful, the CTF will create a new patient registry to help identify both adults and children who would benefit from clinical and support services, as well as future research initiatives. 

Donna Roberts is a mum on a mission. 

When Donna discovered her daughter was being bullied about her appearance, she decided to take it upon herself to reduce the stigma surrounding NF.

Courageous and fearless, Donna began by connecting families through online support groups and in her local area. 

Thanks to her advocacy, she has helped bridge the gap between NF families and the broader community.

If Donna is successful, the CTF will use its grant to run a camp for kids with Neurofibromatosis as well as their siblings.

Amy O’Rourke’s son William has Neurofibromatosis (NF), a condition that causes tumours to grow on nerves throughout the body.

As a mental health nurse, Amy’s first instinct has been to fight for greater understanding of the condition and to advocate for Will and other families living with NF.  

Despite being a busy Mum and working full-time for Queensland Health, Amy has dedicated her time to helping others understand NF, to fundraise for a cure and to support families of newly diagnosed children in particular. 

If Amy is successful, the CTF will create a new patient registry to help identify both adults and children who would benefit from clinical and support services, as well as future research initiatives.