Meet the Googong mum tackling the wellbeing of oncology carers, one meal at a time

Kristy Giteau was in isolation with her daughter Ka’ili in Sydney Children’s Hospital in 2020 when it dawned on her that she would have to leave her sick little girl to go and find some dinner.

Ka’ili was fighting a rare childhood cancer for the second time, and Kristy and Ka’ili were in a room of the high-risk oncology unit alone. It was too dangerous for others to enter due to the risk of infection. If Kristy left, Ka’ili could wake up and find herself alone, without an advocate.

“As an oncology parent, you spend every minute of every day in hospital,” Kristy says.

“The patients of course are fed but carers get nothing. I kept questioning staff, social workers at the hospital: why don’t the carers get fed? Why aren’t we looking after the wellbeing of those caring for sick loved ones?

“Because if they get sick, the patient has no-one.

“And they really couldn't give me answers. So I thought: it has to be better. We have to do better. I thought if I could help one family, that would make the world of difference.”

It was a simple idea, but one that Kristy felt incredibly passionate about. It gave her something to focus on while Ka’ili mostly slept after treatment. In June 2020, the ‘Win the Day’ charity officially launched, with a logo designed by Ka’ili and named after the Tai family’s mantra during their little girl’s cancer treatment.

“I had the mindset in the hospital that the disease and the treatments she was receiving were out of our control, but what we could control as her parents, was ensuring she went to bed winning the day,” Kristy says.

“It meant we consciously went out of our way to provide experiences that meant she went to bed smiling and looking forward to waking up the next morning.”

The charity was immediately embraced by the Queanbeyan community, where the Tai family lives. The Queanbeyan Whites — home to Kristy’s rugby-playing husband Soakai — ran an auction of signed first grade players jerseys’ and raised $50,000.

More than three years on, the charity has raised around $1 million, assisting more than 140 families with the cost of food, accommodation, counselling and sadly, celebration of life costs.

“Families shouldn’t have to worry whether they can afford to support their children through the biggest battle of their lives,” Kristy says.

“They should be able to pack their bags – as we did – and leave their employment and life behind, as daunting and uncomfortable as that is, so they can be fully present with their sick child.”

Win the Day is run exclusively by volunteers, including Kristy herself, who is the assistant principal of Queanbeyan South Primary School. The charity relies on people donating time and money to continue to assist those families who need it.

Zango has been a proud supporter of Win the Day for two years, offering marketing support services free of charge.

"Ask any real estate agent what the most favourite part of their job is and you will undoubtedly hear them speak of ‘being there’ for new beginnings,” says Zango Marketing and Brand Manager Andrew Sherer.

“Connecting people with new homes, full of new hopes and their own place to create new family memories.

“Sometimes however, these hopes must be placed on hold to contend with the most unimaginable of challenges. This is where the work and passion of Kristy and her team at Win The Day is so important and so extraordinary.

“Kristy, like no other, understands the positive uplift connected communities, neighbours and friends can bring in disconnected times and that the desire to reunite your family back under the one roof is what fuels your everyday.

“Zango and Win The Day know that there’s no place like home. And since we also know that the Canberra & Queanbeyan communities are the best place to raise a family, we’ll be there to support Kristy's mission and Win The Day, day in, day out.”

With little Ka’ili in remission, and looking forward to Year 3 next year, Kristy will focus on vending machines in 2024.

“We're looking at a vending machine at Sydney Children’s Hospital where families can just help themselves,” Kristy says.

“It's not a paid thing. It would just be a refrigerated machine where the oncology parents can just walk up, push in their code and it spits out a meal without any payment required.

“And of course we’ll continue to fundraise and raise awareness. It’s so important.”

If you'd love to support Win the Day you can do so by donating, becoming a sponsor, buying merchandise or paying a meal forward. Head to the Win the Day website for more.