WHEN Singleton couple Marcus and Sharon Kirkwood began a fund-raising crusade for cancer research they had no idea that two years later the disease would almost kill one of their sons and claim the life of another.
This is the remarkable story of 17-year-old Tom Kirkwood and his family, whose love surpasses all boundaries, and how they have united a small rural community and made a vital cancer research institute $400,000 richer.
The Kirkwood family's story of heartbreak and hope began in the late 1990s when eldest son Sam, then aged 10, was diagnosed with leukaemia.
Sam was brought back from the brink of death after a severe reaction to the drugs he was being treated with.
Six weeks after Sam's treatment finished, his younger brother Tom was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour.
He battled his illness for almost a decade but died in August after a courageous fight.
"Sam said to Tom before he died that he should not be afraid," Mrs Kirkwood said.
"He said 'There's a better place Tommy. I've been there'."
It is words like these that have astounded, overwhelmed and brought to tears the executive director of the Children's Cancer Institute of Australia, Professor Michelle Haber.
"This family is the most extraordinary family who have suffered incredible hardship and through it all have been so brave, optimistic, courageous and are the most wonderful people I have ever met," Professor Haber said.
"They have inspired the Singleton community who in turn have rallied and raised more than $420,000 for the institute.
"I have never been as touched as much by a family, the people and community who surround them."
Tom died the day before his 18th birthday.
"What makes the Kirkwoods' story even more poignant is that they have another son, Harry (aged 12) who has a severe genetic eye problem," Professor Haber said.
Their other son Joe, 16, is in good health but racked with his own pain, asking why he has been left unscathed.
"To have three children who are seriously ill and to be as positive as they are is remarkable," Professor Haber said.
Tom was a "fiercely determined" young man, she said.
"There was one morning when he was sick but knew cattle on the family property had to be mustered," she said.
"He was up at 4am and did it himself. He was a country lad who loved nothing more than being on the farm, on his horse or his bike and he had to give up each of those things he passionately loved as his body fell apart bit by bit with the increasing side effects of his tumour and the chemotherapy."
Mrs Kirkwood said that her sons were her heroes and rallied when the family was at its lowest ebb, giving them strength, hope and love.
Mr and Mrs Kirkwood said despite their hardship they wanted to keep raising money for cancer research.
Mr Kirkwood said that since Tom's death in August a further $20,000 had been raised.
"People know that cancer is a cruel and insidious disease but of all the cancers, childhood cancer is by far the worst," he said.
Mrs Kirkwood said it gave her goosebumps when she thought of her community's fund-raising efforts.
"It would be nice to be able to continue the fund-raising and if it means that in time, through research, we spare some families the pain and the heartache we have gone through then it has been well worth it," she said.
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