It was the night Hannah never wanted to end
HAPPY: Newcastle Knights player Trent Hodkinson with Hannah Rye at the Kurri Kurri High School formal. Picture: Sarah Blanch Photography
INSTA: @trent_hodkinson I had the honour to dedicate my round 3 #tren7skickforkids To Hannah who loves the Knights, and was able to meet her and her family after the game. A huge thank you to @adidasau @iscsport @petresortsau and Domayne Kotara for Hannah's goody bag.
She was the belle of the ball and living a fairytale with Newcastle Knight’s star Trent Hodkinson by her side.
It was the night terminally ill Mount Vincent teenager Hannah Rye did not want to end.
Hannah and her NRL partner were guests of honour at a special Year 10 formal for Kurri Kurri High School.
The formal, normally held at the end of the year, was brought forward when news came that Hannah’s health was deteriorating.
Hannah was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma when she was just 13-years-old. She underwent a grueling intense chemotherapy and had been cleared of active cancer for only five months before the cancer returned.
Her school principal Tracey Breese, said the formal was the result of an overwhelming community and school effort and one that will create many beautiful memories for Hannah and her family.
“I have to thank the community for banding together along with Hannah’s Year 10 advisor Linda L’Green. They certainly helped make the formal such a special event,” Ms Breese said.
Ms Breese said Hannah looked beautiful and at the end of the night said to teachers: “I just don’t want it to end.”
The formal was also put together with the help of the Fight for Connar Foundation.
Connar Gibson met Hannah when they were going through chemotherapy together at John Hunter Hospital. Sadly Connar, who had a brain tumour, died in October at the age of nine.
Hodkinson said he met Hannah last year and had stayed in contact with her.
“The club had a call recently to say the news for Hannah wasn’t so good so we worked towards getting to the formal,” he said.
“She was the star of the show and all her friends were cheering and so happy that she was able to go to the event. She certainly brought a smile to my face.
“This has been so good for Hannah and her family and bringing awareness to Ewing’s Sarcoma. Hannah and her family are such brave and strong people.
“You would never know what they were going through,” Hodkinson said.
Hannah and Hodkinson met in 2016 when Hodkinson dedicated his kicks to Hannah as part of the 'Tren7's Kick for Kids' initiative.
INSTA: @trent_hodkinson I had the honour to dedicate my round 3 #tren7skickforkids To Hannah who loves the Knights, and was able to meet her and her family after the game. A huge thank you to @adidasau @iscsport @petresortsau and Domayne Kotara for Hannah's goody bag.
Ms Breese said everyone was on such a high at the formal.
“It was such a lovely event. We have to accept that grief is part of life and being able to do something like this for and with someone who is still with us creates memories that will last and we will cherish together forever,” she said.
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