Eva McGauley Fundraiser

My daughter Eva McGauley was diagnosed with Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma on the fourth of February 2015. She had a stage four tumour behind her left cheek and nose, and secondary tumours in the lymph nodes in her neck. We had to leave our home in Wellington and moved to Christchurch hospital’s fantastic CHOC ward. It was hard being away from our family and friends and our beloved fox terrier Scruffy. Eva underwent six rounds of chemotherapy and six weeks of intensive radiation therapy. It was rough. In June we moved back to Wellington and in November we got the brilliant news that Eva was in remission. Excitedly we began to look forward to the future again. However our relief was short lived. Three weeks later we were called back into the hospital to be told that the cancer had spread to Eva’s hip bone and to a lymph node in her chest. There are a range of treatments Eva has access to, some well documented, some experimental. The aim of treatment at this time is to prolong Eva’s life, and give her the opportunity to see and experience as much of life as possible. I’m still hoping for a miracle.

Eva needs my full time care and attention but as a single parent this is becoming more and more of a struggle. Evie and I are a great team, but this challenge we are facing together has tested us both. We need some help. I admit that asking for help doesn’t come easily to me, but I figure that if Eva can endure what she must then I can swallow my pride too. Please help us to make the rest of Eva’s life as fulfilling, rich and stress-free as possible. Thank-you.

- Donations will be used for family support, Eva's education costs and health care.

Words of support from Wellington City Councillor Simon Woolf;

I have known Eva McGauley for sometime now. Eva is an integral part of The Wellington City Council's Youth Council, and is a natural leader. Eva has been involved with The Youth Council for coming on three years. She has also been heavily involved in Women's Rights, and Human Rights issues, and is an amazing advocate and lobbyist in a number of key areas.

Eva, was diagnosed with a particularly aggressive cancer last year. She spent two thirds of last year in Christchurch, in the Paediatric Oncology unit. The cancer meant she was unable to eat by mouth, which is still pretty much the case. Her initial prognosis was positive, however in November, she received a severe setback when tumours were found in her hip and chest. While those tumours have been treated with radiotherapy, Eva still remains very vulnerable. Her current prognosis, without interventions is not that positive.

The word positive is what describes Eva. She is a huge talent, and the sort of person who turns negatives into something very positive. Eva is the type of person who with some future years under her belt could change the world! She is a remarkable 16 year old. Her maturity, her all roundedness and her drive is something that belies belief, and especially in that she remains very ill. You would not know that she was ill to see Eva in action!

In my life I have seen many people in adverse situations. I have seen people both counter, and succumb to health issues. Eva is the former, a person who makes everyday count, and those days normally are made to count for others! Eva is a person who thinks, and then assists others unstintingly, and without a thought for her own situation.

I am hugely proud of Eva, and her family. They have been to some seriously terrible places, and have encountered a lot in recent years. Without exception they are very good people, and the fabric of our community. They are not of huge means, however they give a lot. It is now our turn to support them.

I would urge you to invest in Eva. Help her not only to survive and live a quality life longer, but help her to keep contributing, and to be able to create a legacy. Eva is total quality, an impressive young woman of huge potential, and a person who is so worth going into bat for. We have set up a Give A Little Page. The page is to support Eva, her mother Kate, ( who is totally devoted to Eva ), and to help Eva with her future medical needs, which could be quite substantial.

Eva McGauley is an impressive young person, who if given the opportunity to pay back an investment in her, will do so in spades. Assisting her cause is low risk, and will have widespread benefits. I have no hesitation in asking you to help Eva in anyway you can.

Simon Woolf

Wellington City Councillor, and proud to be a friend of Eva and her Family.

Words of support from Her Worship Celia Wade Brown Mayor of Wellington:

The Wellington City Council’s Youth Council is an important and integral part of The Wellington City Council’s four advisory groups.

Eva McGauley is a vital and involved member of our Youth Council. She is a vibrant, intelligent, and caring person who continues to contribute to Wellington in a variety of different ways. Irrespective of her illness Eva has kept herself involved in Youth Council activities. She is valued and respected by myself , City Councillors and Youth Councillors alike. Eva, even in adversity, is a wonderful role model. People who come into contact with Eva cannot fail to be impressed with her maturity, her warmth, and her ability to work at both grass roots, and at a senior advisory level. A Give a Little page has been established to support Eva and her family through a particularly difficult time. I know I speak on behalf of Councillors, Youth Councillors, and the council team, in asking you to support Eva’s Give a Little campaign.