Her dad was diagnosed with Richter's Transformation — a rare and aggressive form of cancer.
Suddenly, life became a blur of hospital visits, treatments, and emotional exhaustion.
“I just didn’t know how to react,” Chloe shared. “I felt like everything was closing in on me.”
Chloe with her dad before his diagnosis
Each day after school, Chloe would wait for her mum to finish work so they could head straight to the hospital. It quickly became their new normal. While her classmates were thinking about homework and hanging out with friends, Chloe was navigating fear and uncertainty at home.
At school, she felt completely out of place, isolated in her experience.
Later that year, Chloe's dad passed away.
“There were hundreds of kids at school,
but I felt like I was the only one with a dying parent.”
Finding Connection Through Canteen
In the middle of her grief and confusion, Chloe discovered Canteen, a turning point in her journey.
"I heard about Canteen towards the end. It felt really nice to know there were other people like me. We didn’t even have to talk about cancer… we just understood each other.”
Chloe found a community of young people who understood her experience with Canteen and felt more connected and supported than she had in months.
Chloe with her dad
Giving Back as a Youth Ambassador
In 2020, Chloe decided to give back. She became a Canteen Youth Ambassador to support other young people impacted by cancer, just like her.
“I’ve done so many things since since I lost my dad — graduated high school and uni, got my licence, moved across the country. Life now is just a whole lot more fun.”
Now 25, Chloe continues to speak out and support others, so no young person has to face cancer on their own.
On my own with you bandanna
Chloe has designed her own ‘On my own with you’ bandanna to represent her cancer experience and the things that helped her in her journey.
“My bandanna is a tribute to the love and memories I carry with me. Even in grief, I hold onto the joy me and my dad shared. Every symbol tells our story —because even when I'm on my own, he's still with me.”
Buy 'On my own with you' bandanna
