Olympian faces fears for kids with cancer

Olympian faces fears for kids with cancer

Bronte Campbell is confident in the pool but says she will confront two of her demons during the Macquarie Bondi to Bronte Ocean Swim. 

On Sunday 1 December, Bronte Campbell is hitting the surf in the Macquarie Bondi to Bronte Ocean Swim to raise funds for childhood cancer research.

The Olympian launched into training for the event having only just arrived home fresh from the FINA Swimming World Cup in Doha where she won three medals (gold medal in the mixed 4x100m freestyle relay, silver in the women’s 100m freestyle, and bronze in the women’s 50m freestyle).

The Bondi to Bronte is one of Australia’s most iconic ocean swims. Starting at Bondi Beach, participants finish their journey at Bronte SLSC, the world’s first Surf Life Saving Club.

The 25-year-old Olympian is confident in the pool but says she will confront two of her demons during the swim as she raises money to help children with many different types of cancer.

“I have a fear of sharks and deep water,” says Bronte. “But it’s worth facing those fears to raise money for The Kids’ Cancer Project.”

The Kids’ Cancer Project is official charity partner of the annual swimming event. With three children dying from the disease each year, the charity is dedicated to supporting scientific research aimed to result in 100 per cent survival. 

“Every 12 months, more than 950 kids are diagnosed with cancer in Australia, and the average age is just 6 years old,” says Bronte. “My goal is to help those children and their families by raising $10,000 for kinder, more effective treatments,” she says.

Cheering Bronte on will be 13-year-old Hugo Kulscar who was diagnosed with leukaemia in 2018. The Waverley College student along with his parents are thrilled that such a high-profile Australian sporting star is to helping raise awareness and funds for the disease for which he’s currently receiving treatment.

“We’ve put our faith in Hugo’s incredible doctors to make him well, but watching how he suffers after treatment is heartbreaking,” says Hugo’s mum Denai Kulscar.

“We believe medical research is vital to the discovery of treatments that are less toxic to growing bodies and that’s why, as a family, we are all so grateful that Bronte is making her swim count by raising funds for The Kids’ Cancer Project,” says Frankie Kulscar, Hugo’s dad.


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Kimberly Johns, Head of Life Saving and Education at Bronte SLSC says she is also delighted that Bronte Campbell is joining the hundreds who will be taking to the water on 1 December.

“Over the past seven years, Bondi to Bronte swimmers have raised a whopping $220,000 for childhood cancer research,” says Kimberley. “We’re super excited to have Bronte swimming this year and urge everyone to help her meet, and possibly exceed her goal to raise $10,000.”

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