Eight-year-old "dancing queen" Mia Odwyer is one of the faces of the 2021 Jeans for Genes campaign which raises funds for the vital work being done in the labs at Children's Medical Research Institute.
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When she was five years old, her and her mothers world changed forever.
Mia was diagnosed with medulloblastoa, a type of aggressive brain cancer found in children, after her mother persisted in getting her checked by medical professionals after she was experiencing an array of symptoms.
"Mia started off having a little bit of vomitting, we then took her up to our local GP who ran a few tests," she said.
"Everything had come back fine but she was still vomitting. We got a referral to Dubbo and I demanded they check her head.
"They ended up finding a 4.7 centimetre tumour. We then got flown from Dubbo straight to Westmead Children's Hospital in Sydney."
Stacey said her daughter, who is now eight, is a pillar of strength and continues to inspire her daily.
"We were told that she would more than likely not get out of her wheelchair. But she's out of it now and goes to physiotherapy every Tuesday," said Stacey.
"We have MRIs every three months and they watch it (the tumour) carefully.
"She's had a seizure as well when we had first come home after treatment, so we've had some hurdles to jump but we've been very lucky."
Now, Mia is back doing her favourite thing - dancing.
"It's hard to put into words how strong Mia is," said Stacey.
"There is nothing that can stop her. And I got through everything we've been through because she got through it."
Stacey said Mia was thrilled to be a part of the 2021 Jeans for Genes campaign.
The other Mudgee kids involved in the CMRI Jeans for Genes campaign are: Kalarny Parker, Charlie Swords, Charlie Sievers, Bug Clarke and Charlie Rixon.
Thanks to the generous donations from Mudgee businesses including McGrath Mudgee Region, Leven Smash Repairs, Advanced Automotive Services, Blooms the Chemist Mudgee and Petries Mitre10, CMRI Mudgee have raised over $15,000.
To donate, you can find these fundraisers across the Mudgee community over the next few weeks:
- Every Friday through until August 6, a CMRI Mudgee Committee member will be out the front of Blooms the Chemist Mudgee from 10am - 1pm selling Mudgee edition Jeans for Genes t-shirt and other J4G merch
- Both Funk Fitness and F45 Mudgee are holding fundraising fitness classes. Funk's will be on August 6, while F45 will have classes running on August 7. You can find out more information via their Facebook pages.
- Numerous local preschools, schools and businesses in Mudgee have signed on to do a denim mufti day on August 6.
- Jeans for Genes merch as well as baked goods will be sold from 9am - 1pm on 6th August outside Blooms the Chemist Mudgee on Church Street.
- Or book into celebrate with the CMRI Committee at 53 Food Co on August 8.
Or to donate to the CMRI Mudgee fundraiser, visit: https://fundraise.jeansforgenes.org.au/fundraisers/MudgeeCommittee
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Grace Crivellaro
Court reporter for the Illawarra Mercury.
Court reporter for the Illawarra Mercury.
