2020 was a year like no other for so many. But throw a rare cancer diagnosis in and Maddie experienced a challenge like none she'd seen before.

I am participating in the Kosi Challenge with Rare Cancers Australia because in 2020 I was diagnosed with cancer. The cancer I was diagnosed with is so rare that less than 1 in 1.5 million people develop it. I am lucky to have a very diligent GP who sent me for the appropriate scans and referrals in a timely manner. If he hadn’t done so, I would not be able to climb Kosi this year."

Rare Cancers Australia provided me with some much-needed support. They had a dedicated support group set up for me and other people with my type of cancer so that we had a community we could connect to. Having cancer is an incredibly isolating experience, particularly for those with rare and less common types of cancer. Having a community and a group to connect with helped to navigate the multitude of emotions that comes with a cancer journey. I am so grateful to have been able to be part of such a group, especially during Melbourne's lockdown to control the second COVID-19 wave, which meant I could not tap into normal supports.

In 2020 RCA's Patient Support Team saw an increase in the complexities patients faced. Lock-down had a significant psychological effect on many and of course, jobs were lost, uncertainty was up and there was a higher reliance on support from the charity sector. Maddie plus people like her are our 'Why', this event symbolises our commitment and raises much-needed funds to continue our work.

Climbing Kosi, the tallest mountain in Australia, marks for me, a milestone. It is symbolic of having surmounted a tremendous challenge. While my journey isn’t over yet, being able to stand on the tallest mountain in Australia and say “I did it”, will be a tremendous moment for me. Having the physical ability to climb that mountain, hike the 21km round trip to do so, will be evidence that there is life after cancer. While I may bear the scars of my journey and no longer have the same ability in my body that I once did, I can still do amazing things. I can still climb mountains, I can still get out in nature, I can still live my life. I can."