From wheelchair to NT trek

TORQUAY’S Mollie Quinn was in a wheelchair recovering from life-saving cancer surgery a few months ago.
The inspiring 21-year-old is now preparing to walk 80 kilometres in the Northern Territory over six days to raise money for the Sony Youth ‘You Can Stay’ initiative, which provided a ‘home away from home’ in Melbourne for herself and family for the two-month duration of her treatment.
“I know, I’m crazy,” Mollie laughs at the thought of taking on the Larapinta trail next month.
“I’ve started back at pilates and I’m trying to walk most days.
“It’s amazing what your body can do; I’m back into the swing again.
“I don’t know what’s around the corner but I feel good and I’m excited, it’s going to be a good challenge.”
Mollie was diagnosed with Myxoid Liposarcoma in December last year, just before Christmas.
She had a tumour the size of a tennis ball in her upper right thigh and started radiation treatment immediately before an operation to remove the tumour and reconstruct her leg.
“I had to learn to walk again; After two months of being wheeled around in a wheelchair, driven by family and friends to numerous physio and hospital visits and weeks upon end on crutches, I am finally able to walk again and am increasing my distance each day,” Mollie said.
She said the ‘You Can Stay’ initiative made all the difference, to what was already a very difficult time for herself and her family.
Sony Youth ‘You Can Stay’ is a national accommodation support service in partnership with Quest Apartments Hotels, funding regional youth cancer patients and their families accommodation, while receiving treatment.
Mollie said without having somewhere to stay, they would have spent an extra three hours a day travelling between Torquay and Melbourne.
“It was already quite exhausting, and there were other appointments as well. They would have been very long days if I’d had to travel,” she said.
Mollie said when the opportunity to raise money and give back to the program that had provided accommodation and helped so much during the treatment, she had no hesitation – particularly knowing she would have her sister Emma, 20, beside her.
“Emma’s been my rock through it all and when the opportunity to do the walk came up she was all over it; she knows how much it meant to me,” Mollie said, explaining the close relationship they share.
The Larapinta trek will cover 86km in tough terrain and Mollie has committed to “giving it every bit of my strength to help make a difference to other young people aged 15 to 25 going through cancer battles”.
Mollie and Emma have set themselves a $15,000 target and with a month to go until the trek, are well on their way, with the support of friends, family and the wider community.
“It’s mind blowing how lucky we are in a community like Torquay,” she said.
“I’m so grateful to have this opportunity to raise awareness for youth going through cancer and so grateful to everyone who has donated.”
Every $100 raised funds a night of emergency accommodation for a young cancer patient.
To support Mollie and Emma and help make a difference to young people going through cancer treatment, donate at sonyfoundation.org/fundraiser/quinnsisters