Dare to Dream Scholarship Finalist: Mark’s Story

Aspiring paediatric psychology student, Mark 17, has been named one of the finalists of the 2025 Redkite and Coles Dare to Dream Scholarship.  

“My goal will be to study and work in supporting the acute and specialised mental health needs of paediatric oncology patients.”  

Mark, from Sydney, was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia, with an Ikaros mutation in March 2024 at 15. A few weeks prior, Mark was feeling rundown and had abdominal pain, and eventually had his appendix removed. When he was still unwell after surgery, the family went back to the hospital for further tests.  

“The local hospital where we had the surgery did a blood test and told us it was leukaemia. But then it took another week before we got an official diagnosis,” Mark’s mum, Helen, said.  

The family spent a week in a sort of “limbo state”, not quite knowing what was going on or what the next steps were.  

“And then on April 5th, the day before my birthday, I was diagnosed with cancer,” Mark said.  

Mark spent the next 18 months in various forms of intensive treatment. Due to Mark’s type of Leukaemia and his limited response to chemotherapy, his medical team recommended a bone marrow transplant. Thankfully his sister Rose, was a 100% donor match.  

While there were many complications from transplant, Mark is now over 100 days post-transplant and leukaemia free.  

“I think it took me maybe five days before I completely believed the cancer was gone. I now have the privilege of being able to create goals not just for 2025 but for my whole life!” 

Mark’s Inspiration

Going through such intense treatment caused a lot of challenges for Mark. He was socially isolated from friends and family, missing out on regular teenage experiences, missing his usual hobbies like surfing, and having to stop his schooling during treatment.  

“Prior to diagnosis, my focus was on surfing, playing AFL, reading my way through the classics, socialising, and schoolwork.”  

“Reentering my old life has been very hard as everything and everyone is different, including me. My family and close friends have helped so much with my rehabilitation.”  

Mark wants to become a clinical paediatric psychologist, to support children and young people with cancer, drawing on his own experiences.  

“I specifically want to support patients with the cognitive consequences and the impact of treatment. ”  

Mark’s Dream

Mark’s dream is to go to university and become a psychologist and the Dare to Dream Scholarship will help fund his university degree, textbooks, and tutoring. 

“To be able to focus on my future and my goals, instead of just my survival day by day is an awesome feeling. The luxury of being able to make choices, decisions and feel optimistic about my future is priceless”. 

“The financial support of the Dare to Dream Scholarship has inspired me to think beyond the next month or year and into a future I feel sure of.” 

For his parents Helen and Stephen, seeing their son post-treatment and making plans for his future is a huge milestone. 

“Thanks to his sister’s bone marrow donation, Mark is in full molecular remission, and he has rung the bell for the end of treatment. It’s a liberating feeling…and a world of possibilities has flooded back into our lives. Our wonderful son will have a beautiful life.”

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.