DANIEL'S STORY

Daniel was 16 when his mother passed away, following a five-year battle with cancer. His teenage years felt like a mountain to climb; steep, lonely and terrifying. 

After my Mamma died of breast cancer — when I was lost and simply couldn’t grasp that I would never see her again — it was Canteen that was there to pick me up.

It was Canteen that helped me deal with it, that gave me the tools I needed to grieve properly — and crucially, that made me feel heard.

Thanks to donations and fundraising from people like you, I was able to access the Good Grief program. One memory that really sticks in my mind is when I, and other friends I made who also lost loved ones, wrote letters to the people we had lost. 

After finishing my letter, I walked down to the beach with my Canteen support worker. We were walking through some wattle trees and she told me that in Aboriginal culture the wattle trees are where the spirits of loved ones rest. I felt like Mamma was right there with me. It was so moving. We then put our letters in the water and watched them float away. 

The sessions that took place on that Good Grief Program encouraged me to reflect on my Mamma’s life, the traits that we share and helped me to realise that even though Mum has passed away she is still part of my life and always will be.

Beyond the fun of Canteen's Five Peaks Virtual Challenge, your fundraising and donations will support other young people like me. 

That support changed my life, and that’s why I’m so passionate about supporting Canteen!

Donate $30

Helps a young person struggling with cancer access online counselling when they need it most.

Donate $65

Allows a young person to attend a Canteen program, connecting with others who’ve been through cancer.

Donate $118

Provides a specialised counselling session for a distressed young person facing by cancer.