Helping kids be kids – Meet Alice

Alice Morley, just 6 years old, has faced tremendous challenges in her short life. Diagnosed with orbital rhabdomyosarcoma in July 2021, her parents, Sian and James, and their three sons, moved from Calliope, in Queensland’s Gladstone region, to Brisbane, where Alice underwent six months of chemotherapy and radiation to her right eye.

Alice was declared cancer-free by December 2022 but when her initial symptoms returned six months later, the Morley family were faced with unimaginable news. Doctors needed to remove Alice’s entire right orbit – the optic nerve, the eyeball, the eyelid and everything around it – to save her life.

Through it all, Alice kept her radiant smile.

“It’s really hard, but she keeps smiling,” Sian told 7 News. “She’s always smiling and happy.”

After finishing treatment in mid-March 2023, Alice went back to school. Her bravery and resilience continue to inspire many – including the team here at Variety Queensland.

We know from experience that families often put their lives on hold when their kids face illness. For the Morley family, this meant normal activities were off the cards while Alice was at her most vulnerable.

Thanks to your fundraising efforts, Variety Queensland was thrilled to present brand new bikes to Alice and her brothers William, Xander, and Henry, at the conclusion of the 2024 Variety Bash. It was wonderful to see the kids enjoying their new bikes as the family returns to their normal, everyday activities.

Special thanks to the Morley family for generously sharing Alice’s story.