Family and friends of a young woman who died of cancer are raising funds for the Wauchope Hospital’s palliative care unit where staff made her last weeks very special
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Taegan Grace McNamara was just 29 when she became terminally ill with cervical cancer, and staff helped organise her wedding to John Tavaga, just before she died.
Last year, after Taegan’s death, John’s rugby union team, Wauchope Thunder played in her memory, to raise funds for the palliative care unit, and this Saturday, they’ll do the same.
Taegan’s mother, Vickie said her daughter had a hard, 12-month battle with cancer. At the end, when it was terminal, her specialist in Sydney got her a room in the palliative care unit.
“None of us thought it was going to happen so quickly. The staff were amazing. They looked after Taegan her family and friends so well,” she said.
Taegan and her fiance, John wanted to get married and the staff at the unit helped organise the wedding.
“Who else would do that?” said Vickie. “Taegan had a huge number of friends and family members, visiting at all times of the day and night, and the staff helped us all though a horrific, tragic time.”
John’s friend Aaron Robinson of the Wauchope Thunder organised last year’s match and the club decided to do it again. “Part of our charter is giving back to the community,” he explained.
Coach Marc Minor said he was close to John andTaegan and the game was special. “It’s important as a young club that we have legacies and we can build around them.”
The players will have a special strip on the day. The event in Andrews Park in Wauchope starts at 1pm on Saturday, with the Reserves kicking off at 1.45pm.
