Bravery Buddies are dolls for children who are battling with cancer. The dolls act as a member of the child’s support team when they are spending long hours in the hospital. The dolls have been designed to be an empathic partner for children, with no hair. Bravery Buddies act as a friend they can relate to when they need it most. So far, over 5,000 dolls have been donated and created companionship and positivity in such a trying time in a child’s life.
When 16-year-old Megan reached out to Tegan Kubler at Bravery Buddies, she was worried she was too old to receive the specially made companion dolls for kids impacted by medical-related hair loss. Megan had been diagnosed with lymphoma and wanted a companion for the long stays in the hospital.
Her Bravery Buddy, named Hope, was a symbol for Megan, and she became a proud ambassador for Bravery Buddies, sharing the message to other kids that they are not alone. Sadly, Megan passed away on July 14, spurring Tegan on to donate 500 Bravery Buddies in Megan’s name.
Founder Tegan knows only too well the isolation and fear, having started her battle with leukaemia when she was a teenager. “Megan showed me that Bravery Buddies are not just for little kids. Bigger kids diagnosed with cancer are often isolated from their friends, and it can be a very lonely time,” Tegan said.
“When I heard Megan had passed away, I wanted to do something not only to honour her life, but also to let other kids and teenagers know they are not alone.”
The Tour for Megan kicks off from the Sunshine Coast during International Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in September, moving to Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Tasmania and then back up through regional areas, ending in Brisbane on October 9. The tour will be on the Gold Coast on September 20.
“Our goal is to secure a motor home as my husband and son travel with me to help deliver the dolls. As a cancer fighter, the battle is never over, and without my family supporting me and being by my side, life would have been that much harder,” Tegan said.
“We will visit the children’s hospitals in each of our stop offs, giving a Bravery Buddy to every young person we meet who is fighting cancer, or has a loved one fighting cancer.”
“I am doing this for Megan. She inspires me to continue moving forward, because Bravery Buddies made a huge difference in her life at a time when she felt like no one else understood what she was going through.” People support Bravery Buddies by sponsoring the specially designed dolls to honour Megan’s memory and keep the spirit of hope alive.
If you would like to gift a Bravery Buddy to a child in need, the Buddies will also be available at public pick-up locations throughout the tour for those who pre-register.
For more information on Bravery Buddies, visit https://braverybuddies.org.au/
