When Beau Hewitt passed away 12 months ago the world lost a beautiful young boy, a loving son and brother, and a Manly Sea Eagles fanatic.
His story was one of bravery. A young boy who was struck down by a very rare form of cancer in March 2025.
Month after month Beau fought the disease, confronting every day with a zest for life and a smile that would light the room.
Throughout his struggles Beau formed a very tight bond with Jake, Tom and Ben Trbojevic who were also local juniors with the Mona Vale Raiders.
When Beau passed away one week before his 13th birthday, Manly remembered their little mate at their Round 3 home game at 4 Pines Park against the Canberra Raiders.
His mother Belinda, father Scott and brother Tye, delivered the official match ball, as Manly fans collectively paid their respects.
On the other side of the world the rugby league community was also inspired by Beau, so much so that a ‘Remembering Beau’ campaign would deliver Beau's family a collection of jerseys from footy clubs all over England.
Most of the jerseys carried Beau #6 on the back, five-eighth being his position, and were handed over to the touring Kangaroos at Headingley in November.
Those behind this initiative were Geoff and Irene Burrow (parents of the late England and Leeds Rhinos half, Rob Burrow), and league fans Andrew Foster and Catherine Alport, parents who also lost a child way too soon.
After winging their way to 4 Pines Park, the jerseys are now safely in the hands of Beau’s family. Belinda and Scott, Beau’s parents, remain overwhelmed by the thoughtfulness of people they have not even met.
It’s just amazing that so many people would go out of their way to do this, it really is so special.
Beau's parents Belinda & Scott
“We plan to personally thank those who organised this, maybe with a Manly jersey and Beau #6 on the back."
Belinda meantime is doing all she can for others who are fighting cancer by helping to raise funds for much-needed research.
Across the month of March, she is swimming roughly five kilometres a day as part of ‘86K for a Cure’. That represents one kilometre for every child diagnosed with cancer in Australia each month.
The ‘86K for a Cure’ swim is raising funds for research at the Children’s Cancer Institute (CCI) in Randwick. Almost $700,000 has already been raised by the 4,948 participants.
More info about the '86K for a Cure' swim can be found here.
You can support Belinda’s fundraising here
