Trivia night to help Oscar shine on

AFTER hearing about her close friend’s grandson’s battle with neuroblastoma, a Geelong woman has taken it upon herself to raise funds by way of a trivia night.

Kardinia Church’s Cherie Pilkington will get the chance to host the Let Oscar Shine Trivia Night on February 19 after it was postponed in October last year, raising much-needed funds for Cranbourne South boy Oscar Dixon’s cancer treatments.

When Ms Pilkington became aware of six-year-old Oscar’s story, she continuously asked her friend how he was doing in his fight with neuroblastoma.

Even though she had never met Oscar and his family, she became passionate about trying to find ways to reach out to Oscar and to support his parents, including her local church praying for him regularly.

“As time progressed, I was made aware of Oscar’s need to have treatment overseas, which was to be at a huge expense to the family,” Ms Pilkington said.

“So, the idea of the trivia night was developed in order to help raise some funds.”

Kristina (Tina) and Phill Dixon, Oscar’s parents, are extremely grateful for the support shown by the families and communities in Geelong.

“Without this support from the Geelong community, Oscar would not have the opportunity to access the best neuroblastoma hospital in the world and be given the best possibly chance to beat cancer for good,” they said.

“If there was one word to describe Oscar, it would be ‘resilient’.

“Oscar has been through more in his life than some people go through in a lifetime. He continues to fight with everything he has. He rarely complains, just soldiers on and somehow manages to make us laugh during it all.”

The event is at Kardinia Church in Bell Post Hill. The night is BYO food and drink for $15.00 and raffle tickets are $5 each.

“Tina and Phill will also be sharing their journey so far and what lies ahead for them and Oscar’s treatment,” Ms Pilkington said.

Individual tickets or tables of eight can be purchased on on Eventbrite. Attendees are required to be fully vaccinated.

To date, $591,000 has been raised in helping Oscar beat Neuroblastoma.

If you would also like donate head to www.gofundme.com/f/let-oscar-shine-help-him-beat-neuroblastoma to do so.