National Dare to Dream Scholarship awarded

Luke Ellem, a remarkable young man and cancer survivor, has been selected out of 28 scholarship recipients from across the country to receive the coveted National Redkite Dare to Dream Scholarship.

Redkite scholarships are available for 16 to 24 year olds who have been diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lives. They are designed to help young people achieve their dreams. Twenty year old Luke will use his scholarship to pursue a career in counselling and psychology so that he can support children as they deal with cancer.

Luke was 12 years old when he was diagnosed with Astrocytoma, a brain tumour that left him with a permanent vision impairment and physical disabilities.

Luke has had to undergo radiation and surgery over the past eight years as a result of his brain tumour. Despite these challenges, his passion for helping others is unwavering. Luke is currently completing a year 10 bridging course at Ithaca Campus in Brisbane as he missed long periods of schooling during treatment. He plans to study a psychology degree at university in the future.

Luke explains, “I didn’t know how to reach out to people when I was younger so I want to help those who have been through similar situations as me and offer them support and guidance”.

“Young people who have faced cancer often discover great strengths and goals – and a passion to pursue them. From the applications for Dare to Dream Scholarships we find this includes the areas of academic study, music, drama, art and sport,” Tim Rogers, Redkite’s General Manager of National Services, explains.

Receiving the Redkite scholarship will enable Luke to work independently as he can now purchase technical equipment and software required for his visual impairment. This will allow him to read ‘the board’ in lectures, write down notes and comprehend fine print with much more ease. Thanks to Redkite, he will also be the proud owner of a much needed laptop which will help him study and complete assessments more efficiently. Luke states, “It has just been a doorway of opportunity for me. I wouldn’t have been able to afford to go to school and pay for classes”.

Redkite’s judging panel received applications for scholarships from across Australia. Channel Nine’s Georgie Gardner said, “It was an honour to be on the judging panel for the 2010 Redkite Dare to Dream Scholarship Program. It is fantastic to have a program like this to help inspiring young people reach their dreams”.

Luke summarises the importance of the scholarship to young people like him by revealing that “It relieves so much pressure off people and inspires them to keep at their goals when things are difficult”.

Learn more about the Redkite Dare to Dream Scholarship Program.


    Luke and his proud family at Luke's scholarship award ceremony October 2010