CanTeen supports young people aged 12 to 24 who have, or have had cancer. It also supports their siblings, and children whose parents have died from cancer.

Kayla is one of CanTeen NSW/ACT’s most southern members, and she knows only too well what it’s like to receive the shocking diagnosis and undergo the sometimes brutal treatment.

Diagnosed with a rare brain tumour in April 2008, Kayla is now on the road to recovery following 18 months of treatment that will continue for some time yet.

Like many people who have no choice but to get on with it and deal with their situation, Kayla is one brave young lady.

“I used to be scared of needles,” Kayla said.

“Now I get one every night.”

The teenager had great fun tying bandannas on the family’s German Sheppard Tia and cat Bridgestone.

“People should buy a bandanna, it’s a good cause,” she said.

“CanTeen has supported me and I really enjoy being a member.”

Kayla’s mum Sandy Huff, who works at the Magnet newspaper, has Bandanna Day merchandise for sale at the front counter.

“Kayla’s type of tumour occurs within less than one in a million people,” Sandy said.

“We always knew she was one in a million but that diagnosis came as a real shock.”

Sandy is encouraging everyone to support Bandanna Day and through their support, help young people like Kayla to have some fun.

“Canteen provides its members with a place where they can simply be young kids and adults away from the pressures of living with cancer in the hospital or at home,” she said.

“With CanTeen’s help they get the chance to attend camps throughout the year to just ‘chill out’ and relax,” Sandy said.