Bourke digs deep for Mason
The Bourke community has rallied to help one of its young citizens, Mason Hardy, who has had the fight of his life, battling acute leukaemia.
Behind Mason are his parents, both of whom have had to put their own lives on hold to support Mason through his treatment.
Mason, almost 11, will likely be home by Christmas after 19 months of medical treatment in Sydney.
For dad Greg, it will be a Christmas present he feared would never arrive, but he is now more hopeful about the future than he has been for almost two years.
Greg said the Bourke community had wrapped its arms around the family to help them through such difficult times. John Milgate was at the top of his thank you list, offering Greg an apprenticeship as a baker, and employment at Morrall’s so that he could help support his son.
To add to the load, Greg’s partner Mandy was also diagnosed with cancer. As well as driving 1200 kilometres to attend trade school in Orange every week, he was also working full time and travelling regularly to Dubbo and Sydney to support his partner and Mason.
“I was out of work at the time after being employed out on the cotton farms for about ten years,” Greg said.
“So, I spoke to Johnno, and he offered me a job. I had done a year and a half of the apprenticeship when I left school when I was about 15 and in January this year I started again and will have another year to complete of the two-year apprenticeship.
Read more local news in the printed edition of The Western Herald.
To subscribe call (02) 6872 2333 today and receive The Western Herald in your letterbox next week!