A Papamoa family – who first-hand receive continuous care and support from the Child Cancer Foundation – is hosting a local event this Wig Wednesday to raise funds for the organisation.

'Right from day one the Child Cancer Foundation is there with you,” says Gavin Bisman.

He and wife Sarah's son Oscar was diagnosed with Leukaemia, aged four, in February 2020 – taking the family-of-six with on a challenging journey.

'He's now cancer-free and back at school,” says Gavin, who reckons the ‘Let's get Wet & Wiggy!' fundraiser next Wednesday, September 7, from 3.30pm-6pm at Papamoa Domain has double-meaning for his family.

First, it's the Bismans' way of giving back to CCF, which is dedicated to supporting families of children with cancer every step of the way 'and have helped Oscar and our whanau immensely”.

It's also to celebrate one year since Oscar came home. 'After two years of ‘fighting the baddies' in his blood and two bone marrow transplants to help beat his Leukaemia, he was released from full-time care at Starship last September and we got to come home as a family to our home in Papamoa.”

How CCF helps

Gavin admits sometimes it's not until you have to access such an organisation that you realise the massive support they give families from the donations they receive. CCF does not receive any direct government funding, so relies on the generosity of Kiwis.

'I still do whatever I can to help CCF,” says Gavin. 'Because I've literally experienced hands-on how they ensure those donations are passed on to the people who need the help. They do this in all kinds of ways.”

For Oscar – who has siblings Isla, 12 and Sailor, 8 and Sage, 5 – his diagnosis came unexpectedly. It was summer 2020 and the family was camping. 'We noticed Oscar was falling asleep, kind of crashing in the afternoons. Initially we put it down to him running around lots; but a few things were off.

'Long-story-short, he still wasn't quite right as school was to go back, so we took him to the doctor.”

A few weeks later Oscar returned to the GP, who ordered blood tests. That night he went to hospital. 'By midnight my wife called to say Oscar had cancer. It was horrible…it was just out of nowhere,” says Gavin.

'I didn't sleep; I was crying, freaking out; then trying to figure out what to tell our other kids…worst-case scenarios are running through your head.”

Oscar's siblings woke to find they weren't starting school but heading to Starship. Transferred, Oscar began treatment immediately. 'By that night he was on his first round of chemo.”

The diagnosis took a few months to sink in. 'You initially think: ‘Oh, we might be here a few weeks then we'll be home but no way – it's a life journey.”

Gavin says CCF support begins day one. 'When admitted to Starship's Oncology ward – in the room is a backpack filled with snacks, toiletries etc and a ‘welcome to this journey' CCF book.

'CCF are there to help before you even get there. From there, you're in the system.”

At that point the focus is on parents, helping them through the situation. When the Bismans moved to Auckland CCF organised food deliveries. 'They really look at all aspects – I'll be forever grateful for what they've done for our family.”

Papamoa youngster Oscar Bisman is today cancer-free but he and his family still receive support from Child Cancer Foundation. Photo: Bob Tulloch.

Scariest moment

Gavin's scariest moment was when Oscar didn't respond to chemo. 'That's when the doctors tell you: ‘Hey, look, you're in for a big mission here. We're going to have to go all out'.”

'That was more heart-breaking than the diagnosis…the odds go against you, survival rates change. Even then we had CCF on hand, offering counselling.”

'We found CCF have systems and resources; they know how to help families, but they're also open to ideas.

'Our contact Barb meets Oscar regularly – she asks: ‘How can we help?' So they not only help with a power bill, which you struggle with when you've got a kid in hospital – they also tailor help to meet the needs of each family.”

CCF has funded swimming lessons for Oscar. 'This gives him a chance to go back to being a kid,” says Gavin. 'They help pay for that because they know you haven't worked for two years and things like that are beyond you.”

'The things they do are really caring – and it's knowing you got someone like that behind you.”

Barb is now a close friend. 'Oscar was, in theory, cancer-free for six months but kept being unwell…eventually he relapsed,” says Gavin.

'The first time, he coped; he was younger. The second time he very much knew what he was in for and we had to have real conversations around living and dying.”

When home Oscar told his parents he understood he might not make it. 'We reached out to Barb and got him counselling.”

Via CCF the Bismans met other families on the journey – some who no longer have their children. 'CCF is there to help in that situation and to honour that child since,” says Gavin, who still attends regional catch-up meetings.

Still there

Two years down the track they're still involved with CFF and still supported by them. 'I'd never want anyone to go through what we've been through…but if you do, you're forever grateful that CCF exist and that people support them because they really do deliver what they stand for.”

Gavin invites all to ‘Let's get Wet & Wiggy!' on September 7 at Papamoa Domain from 3.30pm. 'We'll wear wigs, get together for a surf, swim, beach fun. We'll shake a bucket and people can give what they can to support CCF.”

To participate and raise funds on Wig Wednesday, visit: wigwednesday.org.nz

The Bisman family from left: Sailor, Gavin, Isla, Sarah, Oscar and Sage. Photo: Bob Tulloch.