Courage and community at camp

A BRAIN cancer retreat welcomed patients, carers and families at Log Cabin Camp for fun, friendship and adventure last weekend.

An initiative of the Peace of Mind Foundation, a brain cancer support charity, 85 guests united by a brain cancer diagnosis enjoyed an escape in Creswick, with a flying fox, giant swing, archery, trampolining and canoeing.

Ballarat’s Michelle and Dallas Warren made the most of their fourth retreat with their children, Ronan, Anise, Adrea and Xander. Brain cancer has been part of Warren family life for almost eight years.

“When I was diagnosed, Xander was at kinder, Adrea was two and I was 25 weeks pregnant with Anise,” Mrs Warren said.

“We had a rough time, managing to get through to 37 weeks. I went to the Austin in Melbourne and had my first brain surgery, six weeks after childbirth. It was very isolating. I had another baby and then three years later, it grew back again.”

Experiencing operations in the city, and radiation and chemotherapy at the Ballarat Regional Integrated Cancer Centre, Mrs Warren said it has always been “watch and wait.”

“We’re waiting for it to come back, but I’ve got some really good doctors in Ballarat and Melbourne, and so things like this retreat are fantastic because we can just come and be a family and the kids just get to be kids.

“They’ve got support if you need it, but you can just be yourself. It’s all families who know what’s going on. Everyone’s story is different, but they understand what you’re going through,” she said.

A university researcher and his wife’s carer, Mr Warren said getting away with the kids for a weekend would be difficult without Peace of Mind.

“We wouldn’t be able to do these things without them. It would cost an absolute fortune with four kids. Every week is full on, dealing with such a chronic thing,” he said.

“There’s always the unknown of what’s going to happen in the future and how long for, but we’ve been incredibly lucky. Seven years… Most people don’t get that long.”

Peace of Mind’s CEO and founding director, Bec Picone launched the brain cancer support charity six years ago, providing support, courage and community to families facing the disease across the state.

“Everything we do is about respite. The retreat is an opportunity to connect with one another, and for the families to make memories to cherish,” she said.

“My favourite thing about the family retreats is when everyone arrives on the Friday, they’re strangers, the kids are shy… But as the weekend evolves, the children develop friendships and by the Sunday, families have connected, they hug goodbye, exchange phone numbers and friend each other on social media…

“That support that they’ve got continues long after the couple of days that they’re actually here,” she said.

Families were also able to enjoy a visit to Kryal Castle, Gold Rush Mini Golf or a four-wheel-driving challenge on Saturday.

Peace of Mind is the only brain cancer support charity in Victoria, and the only one in Australia that runs family, men’s and women’s retreats. They offer in-home practical services, counselling, support groups and financial grants.

For more information about accessing their services, to donate or volunteer, visit peaceofmindfoundation.org.au.

The organisation’s volunteers work to fundraise, manage events, provide supportive care, administration, cleaning and gardening services.