Dare to Dream Scholarship Finalist: Ella’s Story

Aspiring pediatric oncology nurse, Ella, 15, has been named a finalist for the 2025 Redkite and Coles Dare to Dream Scholarship.  

“I’ve always wanted to do something health-related, but I wasn’t sure what. Having cancer has helped me realise I want to do nursing,” Ella said. 

Ella, from Nothern NSW, was diagnosed with stage 4 Hodgkins Lymphoma at 14 years old, in July 2024. Her diagnosis came after months of being unwell with anaemia, body pains, and skin allergies. When some lumps started to appear on her neck, their doctor said to monitor for any more. More lumps appeared six months later and the family went to a different doctor, who took bloods straight away. Within days, Ella was receiving treatment.  

“My automatic thought was I know so many people that have beat cancer, but I don’t think that in the moment. I just think cancer means death. I’ve got two days left to live. That’s what my mind straight went to.” 

Ella’s Inspiration

Ella had six months of intense treatment, which consisted of six rounds of chemotherapy plus steroids at-home. During her treatment, she was cared for by a nurse named Sophie, who became the inspiration behind Ella’s dream to be a nurse.  

“I hated being in the hospital room by myself and she would sit with me. Whenever Mum would go and get food or have a phone call, Sophie would come sit there with me, even if I was asleep, even if she wasn’t my nurse, she would still come and sit there with me.” 

“What she gave to me, I want to give to other paediatric oncology patients.”  

Ella loves art, constantly drawing and sketching while she was in hospital and taking part in art therapy when she was home. Her favourite thing to draw are hibiscuses, which are particularly special to her. 

“Throughout my whole journey, before a scary scan, anything that I was nervous for, there’d be a hibiscus somewhere.”  

Ella’s mum, Bek, explained hibiscuses represent resilience in any storm, any weather, because they grow in tough ground. 

One day, nurse Sophie asked Ella for one of her hibiscus sketches.  

“And then the next round of chemo, she came back and it was tattooed on her arm! I was shocked, like this is my drawing, are you sure?”  

The care Ella received in hospital from Sophie, other nurses and specialists has given her a drive to succeed and give back to other children and young people in hospital.  

“My goals before cancer and after cancer look completely different. Cancer changed my whole world.” 

Ella’s Dream

Ella’s Dare to Dream Scholarship will fund her nursing career, starting off with a two-day nursing simulation course in Brisbane. 

“You basically get to see what nursing is like without going through any of the qualifications or anything like that. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity; you just get a little taste of what nursing’s like to decide if you actually want to do it.” 

The Scholarship will also fund driving lessons so Ella can eventually move to Brisbane and be independent, as well as nursing scrubs and shoes. 

“Good shoes are very big in nursing and I don’t have any comfy ones.” 

Putting her story into words was challenging, Ella said. 

“It was definitely emotional writing it down because there’s so many things that I had forgotten that had come back to my memory while I was writing it.” 

Ella is now looking forward to her dream and encouraging other young people to apply for Dare to Dream in the future. 

“Well, I would encourage others to definitely apply for it, because it’s a really good opportunity to be able to make your dreams happen.”  

“Just know you’re resilient and you have a voice. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Life has turbulence, focus on what you love through it, your story matters.” 

Since 2013, Redkite and Coles have awarded 450  Dare to Dream Scholarships worth over $800,000 to support young Australians whose aspirations and goals have been impacted by their cancer diagnosis.