Three major sports clubs rally to honour Levi with charity round
Levi Roodenburg was a typical sports-mad Aussie boy. Sport first revealed his illness, and now three of the clubs he played for are turning heartbreak into hope with the first Livin’ for Levi Round
READING LEVEL: GREEN
Three major Sydney sporting clubs have rallied* to remember sports-mad junior player Levi Roodenburg.
Nine-year-old Levi tragically died after his courageous battle with an inoperable* brain cancer. The charity round created in his honour will raise funds for medical research.
Levi died on May 28 from “diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma” (DIPG), a highly aggressive and rare brain cancer that primarily affects children, leaving behind his parents and two older sisters.
The first Livin’ for Levi Round will take place in the NSW capital’s Hills District this weekend, with West Pennant Hills CFC, Pennant Hills Stags and Westbrook AFL all taking part.
The rounds are designed to keep Levi’s memory alive, while raising awareness of DIPG and childhood brain cancer, as well as raising funds for lifesaving research.
Levi’s mum, Natalie Roodenburg, said the family hoped that the matches could keep Levi’s spirit alive and help other families facing the disease.
“Livin’ for Levi was created to provide hope for children diagnosed with DIPG, by helping fund the research needed to improve outcomes and, one day, find a cure,” Ms Roodenburg said.
“Just as importantly, Livin’ for Levi is about keeping Levi’s spirit alive. We want people to talk about Levi every day, because every conversation keeps his memory alive and helps raise awareness of DIPG.
“The more people who know Levi’s story, the more people who understand this devastating* disease, and the greater the support for the research that will one day change the future for children and families facing DIPG.”
“We are proud to stand alongside Levi’s Project*, who have already raised more than $6 million for vital childhood brain cancer research. Every dollar raised brings us one step closer to better treatments, improved survival, and ultimately a cure for DIPG. Together, we can turn heartbreak into hope.”
There has been an overwhelming outpouring of grief for the West Pennant Hills boy, who has been remembered as a valued teammate and family member, who brought his “pizzazz*” and energy with him.
Levi’s father said sport was one of the factors that led to his son’s diagnosis*.
“He was playing summer soccer and Oztag and we noticed a change in his mobility, to be honest,’’ Mr Roodenburg said.
“My initial thought is he might have had like a maybe a slight infection … because he had quite a heavy limp and he was telling me that he wasn’t hurt.”
After the devastating diagnosis on November 7 following an MRI*, Mr Roodenburg said he and his wife decided not to reveal the diagnosis to their son.
“We tried our best to make as many memories for him as well,’’ he said. “We did an overseas trip to Europe as a family just to try and make memories, which was an amazing time. But we never expected in a million years that it would … be gone so soon, though. To be honest, we really thought we had a bit more time.”
Everyone who can is welcome to be part of the weekend, from players to friends and family and those in the community or further afield, whether it be watching a game, making a donation or purchasing from the canteen.
The first Livin’ for Levi Round is set to take place this Saturday, hosted by West Pennant Hills FC at Campbell Park from 9am-5pm.
The Pennant Hills Stags will also host a round at Greenway Oval from 9am-5pm on the same day.
On Sunday, Westbrook AFL is set to host a round at Mike Kenny oval from 9am-5pm.
POLL
GLOSSARY
- rallied: came together in order to provide support or make a shared effort
- inoperable: not suitable for surgery
- devastating: something that causes severe damage or severe emotional pain
- Levi’s Project: charitable initiative that funds world-leading research and clinical trials at Children’s Cancer Institute for kids with DIPG and brain cancer
- pizzazz: vitality, sparkle, the quality of noticeable and energetic excitement
- diagnosis: the discovery and naming of what is wrong with someone who is ill or with something that is not working properly
- MRI: magnetic resonance imaging is a method by which medical staff can get a picture of soft parts inside a patient’s body, using a powerful magnetic field
EXTRA READING
60,000 Aussie kids for health push
Fearless kids run toward the future
Tiny device keeping siblings alive
QUICK QUIZ
- Which sports club are hosting a Livin’ for Levi Round on the weekend?
- What is diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG)?
- What does Levi’s mum hope the charity matches will achieve?
- How much money for DIPG research has charitable initiative Levi’s Project raised?
- How was sport one of the factors leading to Levi’s diagnosis?
LISTEN TO THIS STORY
CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. A banner for Levi
Design a special banner for the teams taking part in Livin’ for Levi to run through. Your banner should reflect Levi’s spirit and a message of the hope that more research into DIPG can bring.
Time: allowed at least 30 minutes for this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Visual Communication Design
2. Extension
What do you think researchers into childhood brain cancers like DIPG could study to try to understand how these diseases start, spread and how to slow or even stop them?
Brainstorm ideas and use your research skills to help you plan and write a report on this.
Time: allow at least 60 minutes for this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Science
VCOP ACTIVITY
BAB it!
Show you have read and understood the article by writing three sentences using the connectives “because’’, “and”, and “but” (BAB). Your sentences can share different facts or opinions, or the same ones but written about in different ways.