'A legacy to our journey': Queanbeyan Whites help Kristy Giteau's family Win The Day

"Thank you for making me teary," the mother of three smiles inside a Queanbeyan Whites change room at Campese Field.

Soakai Tai is poised to cap off a rise from fourth grade to first grade when the Whites look to save their season against the Wests Lions in Queanbeyan on Saturday.

So why the tears? A glance at the jerseys the Whites will wear tells you all you need to know.

Queanbeyan will wear one-off commemorative jerseys to raise awareness for Win The Day - the charity Giteau built to help families struggling with a loved one who has a rare cancer.

MORE SPORT

Giteau and Tai's daughter Ka'ili was diagnosed with the rare Wilms' tumour in her kidney in July 2019. She has undergone chemotherapy, radiation and a bone marrow transplant.

But she still has a smile that can light up a room, a smile that perhaps at its biggest when she sees a rainbow. That's why the charity logo features a rainbow.

That's why Queanbeyan will trade white for black jerseys boasting a rainbow sash, designed by women's player Caroline Tai.

That's why Ka'ili's father played fourth grade, third grade and second grade all in one day a few weeks ago, so desperate was he to make the top team in time.

"I think it will be very special for our family. The charity itself is a legacy to our journey," Giteau said.

"My husband has worked very hard this year to go from fourth grade with his goal to try to get to first grade for this round.

"If he is able to get on the field during first grade, knowing we couldn't do rugby for the past two years, I think that will be something really special for our family.

"Also for our kids, seeing that jersey and knowing that's a legacy of what we have created for other families is going to be something pretty special."

If you're looking for Tai on game day, just look for the Queanbeyan forward with a bald patch on top of his head. His haircut, courtesy of his daughter, is unmistakable.

Six-year-old Ka'ili is awaiting a scan to determine whether an experimental trial to keep the cancer away worked or not. She seems to be tracking well, Giteau says, so the family hopes for good news.

But the journey will continue long after that.

Which is why Win The Day allows donors to pay for meals or help families cover accommodation while travelling for treatment.

But if Giteau can get one thing out of this weekend, it will be to raise awareness for those in need.

"I don't think people realise what the journey looks like until you've lived it," Giteau said.

"I always get emotional, so lucky this is recorded [and not on camera]. We found there were gaps in services with what's being offered for families with cancer in general, but particularly rare cancers.

"I just wanted to try to fill the gap, so that's where the charity came about. In terms of launching, we service and provide services for families in Canberra. A lot of Canberra families cannot get treatment in Canberra, we have to go to Sydney.

"It's hard enough to get through something like childhood cancer, but we wanted to make the journey a little bit easier."

Head here to find out more about Win The Day.

JOHN I DENT CUP ROUND 14

Saturday: Queanbeyan Whites v Wests Lions at Campese Field, 3.05pm; Tuggeranong Vikings v Canberra Royals at Viking Park, 3.05pm; Uni-Norths Owls v Gungahlin Eagles at ANU North Oval, 3.15pm.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: