Adelaide lacrosse community turns out to support girl, 5, with leukaemia

The tight-knit South Australian lacrosse community has rallied around five-year-old Margot Whinnen, who was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia last Saturday. Margot's parents, Jesse and Nicole, rushed her to the hospital after she complained of severe stomach pains, leading to the diagnosis of the blood cancer.

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She was really bad, complaining of a stomach ache, she couldn't move, so we decided to take her in.

Margot has begun immediate chemotherapy treatment at the Women's and Children's Hospital, where she is expected to remain for months. Her father, Jesse Whinnen, expressed the family's determination to help her "pull through with flying colours."

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The blood test came back with some surprising results so she got transferred to the Women's and Children's and then we found out it was acute myeloid leukaemia.

The lacrosse community, both locally and globally, has shown immense support. A fundraising fete, 'Stick It 2 Leukaemia,' was held in Brighton, drawing hundreds of attendees. Additionally, a GoFundMe page established for the family has already raised over $63,000.

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We've just got to deal with it and hopefully she pulls through with flying colours.

Traci Mathwin, a director of Lacrosse South Australia, highlighted the global reach of the support, noting that even World Lacrosse is involved. "Our community is a really tight community, so when things like this happen, even worldwide, World Lacrosse is on board," she said. The Whinnen family, including Margot's brothers Logan and Miles, expressed deep appreciation for the overwhelming and emotional support from everyone involved.

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[It's] pretty overwhelming, very emotional but amazing that the whole community has gotten behind Margot and behind our family. We really appreciate it from everyone.