Yarrawonga child cancer survivor Leni Ramsdale excited for Footy Colours Day

Sacred Heart Primary School's Leni Ramsdale is an ambassador for the Fight Cancer Foundation fundraiser, which assists with the education of children with cancer.

Leni's diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia occurred when the family was holidaying in Bali in 2018.

"The scary thing is there were no telltale signs that there was anything wrong," Leni's mother, Kellie, said.

"The time we actually took her to the hospital (in Bali) was when she fainted.

"They took a blood test when we were over there and they said she's either got a blood disorder, anaemia or leukaemia. We were hoping it was anaemia.

"We were in the Balinese hospital for a few days and they gave her blood transfusions and when she was well enough we could get to Perth and then to Melbourne.

"As the doctors said when we got back to Melbourne, the flight over to Bali probably brought it all out."

The family was forced to sell its business, house and cars so they would have no repayments while they lived in Melbourne for nine months to be alongside Leni.

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Mrs Ramsdale said she'll forever be grateful to Fight Cancer Foundation and the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne for the way they looked after Leni and the family through her cancer journey.

She was also blown away by the generosity of the Yarrawonga community.

"I hadn't given the schooling any thought, but that was one of the many things offered to us," she said.

"A lot of the kids who were there in the hospital didn't take advantage of that.

"It was good to give me a break and Leni a break from me. It gave Leni someone else to talk to and take her mind off what she was going through."

Leni made a staggered return to school in Yarrawonga last year, but has been back full-time this year.

"I really enjoy school, so it's been really good to get back," Leni said.

Sacred Heart Primary School organised a Footy Colours Day event on September 17, but it may be postponed as Victorian students won't return to the classroom until term four due to COVID-19.

Handball and longest kick competitions, with the help of Yarrawonga footballers, and a colour run were planned to raise funds.

"The beauty of something like Footy Colours Day is a school community can get behind it as well," school principal Arn Gorman said.

"One of the hardest things when you have students or members of your community unwell is working out how to best help."

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