Running for Amelia

“Amelia would be so proud of us” is the message from the father lacing up for the Nelson Half Marathon with his colleagues, friends, and family to remember his late daughter.

Nelson Alarms senior security technician, Damien Hill, lost his daughter, Amelia, in July after a seven-month battle with neuroblastoma, only one month short of her second birthday.

He says Amelia was diagnosed with the disease in December last year after he noticed “protruding” behind her eye which looked like she may have bumped or bruised it.

“It had gone on for a few weeks and it never went away, and we ended up getting sent to the hospital, they scanned everything, and it all came back that there was a mass behind her eye,” he says.

“From further testing they found it was neuroblastoma cancer… the main mass of it all developed in her lower abdomen and it was wrapped around some of her main arteries.”

Damien says Amelia then spent the next six months in Christchurch receiving chemotherapy and medication to treat her cancer.

“It was very overwhelming having to see her go through that, but she’s definitely taught me another side of life, just her strength and courage, and determination throughout that whole time… I could not be more proud of her,” he says.

“I can’t believe the support that she and myself have had throughout this whole journey both from the Child Cancer Foundation and the whole team at Christchurch Hospital as well.”

Damien says in the last few weeks of Amelia’s life, she was in Auckland’s Starship Hospital after developing serious side effects from her treatment.

He says she passed away on 28 July in his arms with her family at her bedside.

Damien says he and 19 of his colleagues will be running and walking the Nelson Half Marathon in memory of his late daughter’s love for the outdoors and to raise funds for his family and the Child Cancer Foundation, who supported Amelia during her treatment.

“The amount of support that they’ve carried from start to finish and to now, I’ve actually got no words, they’ve stood by me just like my friends and family through thick and thin and continually offered support,” he says.

“I’m just completely blown away by how much love the Nelson Alarms family has shown and what they’ve done for me, I’ll forever be so grateful.”

Damien says the initiative was put together by his Nelson Alarms colleagues, Adrian Laing and Chaz Brooks, his parents, and close friend, Samantha Stuart, will also be taking part to remember Amelia.

He hopes his late daughter will be “proud” when the team crosses the finish line on 5 November.

“Losing Amelia, my best friend, has left me the biggest hole and heartache and I hope to always make her so proud moving forward,” he says.

Go here to donate to the cause and support the team.