Honouring Aleena's legacy: Family fundraise for cancer cure

Aleena was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer in October 2017.

She beat it after going through chemotherapy, surgery and radiation. But heartbreakingly in October 2018, the cancer had returned.

Not content with sitting idle, Aleena began raising funds for the Cancer Council through different events in a bid to find a cure, not just for herself but for others.

Then on October 2, 2019, Aleena lost her fight. Today would have been her 36th birthday.

One of her cousins Stephen Bradley, fondly known as Bodgie, said he misses her but knows Aleena would want her family to celebrate the good things in life.

"It was pretty tough," he said.

"She was one of the guys really. We were a similar age, so she was the one I probably related to most.

"Aleena was the first one not to sit there and mope about things, so she would kick our arse if we tried to get too sad."

Michael Bradley, Aleena's father, said it had been a tough year without her, but the family are still fighting for a cure.

"We miss her a lot," he said.

"Especially as for a while there we thought she had beaten it, but then it came back.

"Other people are in situations that are just as tough. I wish we had a cure, and hopefully, all this work to raise money will one day mean we are cancer-free."

Stephen also lost his grandfather to cancer and has watched other friends and family fight the horrible disease.

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So, today he is shaving his head in memory of Aleena and raising money for the Cancer Council.

"About three or four weeks ago, I saw the notification on Facebook that it had been 12 months since she passed," he said.

"It prompted me to do this. I am not worried about losing my hair. I think it will make mum happy."

Michael said he knows Aleena would be proud of Stephen for continuing her fundraising efforts.

To donate go to www.doitforcancer.com.au/fundraisers/bodgiegoesbald/.