Lego-loving Perth boy Murray Foulsham is not letting a cancer diagnosis at 11 years of age get him down — in fact, he is channelling his determination to raise funds to help other sick children.
In May, Murray was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma after a tumour was found in his left leg and in June he began an aggressive treatment regime starting with seven rounds of chemotherapy at Perth Children’s Hospital.
He has had chemo every 15 days.
On Wednesday, Murray had surgery to remove the tumour and is expected to be in hospital for at least two weeks before he enters the recovery stage.
Despite experiencing the hardest moment of his life, Murray is passionate about raising money for Telethon and charities in PCH through his fundraiser Murray’s Movement.
Throughout the year, he has been fundraising for Radio Lollipop and Starlight Foundation, which run the Fun on Four room at the hospital.
His fundraising activities have taken place at his school, Cottesloe Primary School, and included a bake sale for the lower school faction carnival.
Murray’s mum Leeann Foulsham said the support he has received from his community has been incredible.
“They know that Murray’s been through this, and so they want to raise a little bit of money to show their support,” she said.
“Murray would want to say thanks to everybody for being so supportive. He’s got a gorgeous little group of friends, and they’ve really rallied around him.”
About 20 CPS Year 5 and Year 6 students also supported Murray by donating $10 and shaving their heads at the same time he did before starting chemo.
A Year 6 girl named Jessica made bandanas and sold them for $5 at school, and lemonade stalls have been set up around the neighbourhood, with money raised going to Murray’s Movement.
Mrs Foulsham said that at least $2000, maybe $3000, has been raised for Telethon in total.
Murray’s Movement began after Murray was inspired by Telethon and the other charities supporting children like himself at PCH and wanted to join in.
“We came in January of this year with leg pain, and we were kind of in and out of hospital before his diagnosis, hoping that it was maybe osteomyelitis,” Mrs Foulsham said.
“But then a couple of biopsies returned the results that it was cancer. Through those initial stages, Murray would go up to Fun on Four, and there was Radio Lollipop. There was Starlight Foundation, and they would come round and give gifts and toys and try and keep kids entertained while they were here.
“Murray just felt that if other kids could come into hospital and maybe get a box of Lego or play a game through Starlight, then it’s something that he wanted to make sure that everybody got the opportunity to do.”
Mrs Foulsham said throughout his journey Murray has maintained so much “grit and determination”.
“He’s amazing. He never complains. There are days where he feels sad. There are days where it’s just a lot. But generally speaking, he just kind of gets through it,” she said.
“He likes to know what’s happening. He doesn’t like any surprises. All the nurses think he’s an absolute delight. He’s super polite. He’s got a really great sense of humour throughout it.
The Foulsham family have always supported Telethon and will be watching this year’s event on TV with Murray not well enough to attend.
“You hear about Telethon and you see it from the outside, and you donate your money, and you think, ‘God, that’s a shame’, and then you’re in the thick of it, and the job that the nurses and the doctors do is just phenomenal,” Mrs Foulsham said.
“While you don’t want to be in this situation, we’re very thankful for where we live and the help and the support and the care that we get.
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