After watching his young daughter undergo months of gruelling chemotherapy, there was only one thing Andrew Brown wanted to do.
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Make her smile.
Friends of the Melbourne comedian, who grew up in Ballarat, are holding a comedy fundraiser in his childhood hometown to raise much needed funds for his daughter’s treatment.
Among the comedians performing at the event are Richard Stubbs, Frank Hampster and Hap Haywood.
It will also be held to raised money for Mr Brown’s nephew Pat, 21, who has stage four lymphoma.
In June this year, seven year-old Hayley Brown was diagnosed with rare a type of cancer called rhabdomyosarcoma after doctors found a soft tissue tumor at the back of her nose that was filling her nasal passage. The tumor was affecting one of her eyes as well as her brain.
She began intensive treatment on two different forms of chemotherapy just days after her diagnosis.
Earlier this year, a heartbreaking photo Mr Brown shared on social media of his daughter’s last remaining eyelash after months of chemotherapy went global. The image sparked a groundswell of support from all over the world.
“It’s been a very emotional few months,” Mr Brown said.
“But it’s also been incredibly amazing as well just to see the level of support we have received from unknown and unlikely destinations across the world.We have been completely overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support.”
Mr Brown said Hayley has always been a fighter.
“She is a very gentle, introverted girl but she has always been very independent,” he said.“From a very young age, any time her mum or I tried to help her we would hear “Bubba do” which meant she would do it herself.”
Mr Brown has a history of helping families in similar situations, having spent years organising cancer fundraisers.
He has raised approximately $50,000 for different causes over the past few years. Among the events were fundraisers for Ballarat 11-year-old Jaxon Cooper who lost his fight with an inoperable brainstem tumour last year.
The Christmas comedy fundraiser will be held at the Ballarat East Bowling Club, 300 Bradshaw Street, Golden Point on Friday, December 16 from 8pm. Donate by clicking here.