16/06/2026
Greyhound clubs unite for a good cause.
By Brennan Ryan
Greyhounds Tasmania has stepped up to support young cancer patient Amarni Donaghy with a generous donation to help cover the ongoing treatment costs and expenses for battling stage two kidney cancer.
Six-year-old Amarni from Ulverstone should be living the life of a joyful, healthy child.
In April, her mother, 33-year-old Sondra Carey, rushed Amarni to the hospital after she had been dealing with persistent stomach aches for over two years, which were at first thought to be caused by anxiety.
Scans showed Amarni had a stage-two Wilms tumour on her kidney, requiring surgery to remove the entire organ.
She needed three to four blood transfusions in the six-hour operation.
"It's absolutely beautiful, the help we've received," Ms Carey said.
The family has been deeply moved by local generosity. A GoFundMe page for Amarni, shared on social media, has raised $6,780 so far, and Greyhounds Tasmania is now chipping in with a $5,000 donation.
The organisation represents Tasmania’s three greyhound clubs: North West GRC, Launceston GRC, and Hobart GRC, as well as the Greyhound Owners Trainers Breeders Association of Tasmania (GOTBAT).
The total donations will reach $11,780, surpassing their $10,000 goal.
Travels to Hobart for chemotherapy, for three sessions a week, started this month.
In three months, Amarni will travel to Melbourne for radiation therapy under sedation.
"She really doesn't understand what's going on, being so young," Sondra said.
"I’ve got two young kids, and it’s hard to explain what’s going on with their sister.
"We're truly amazed by the support we've received from Alan Clark (Burnie-based greyhound trainer) and the Tasmanian greyhound community in helping us through such a tough situation. It's incredibly humbling."
Sondra also has an 11-year-old son, Harvey, with autism and ADHD, and a nine-year-old daughter, Katara.
Greyhound racing isn’t just about the sport; it’s also about supporting those in need.
