Lachie’s memory to live on in Terang stadium

The memory of a Terang basketballer who died of brain cancer will live on forever in the Tornadoes’ home stadium, with the club set to unveil Lachie Stephenson’s framed shirt this weekend.

Stephenson, 20, tragically lost his short battle with a diffuse midline glioma on New Year’s Day this year.

He was a fit and healthy teenager, who also played football with Camperdown, when he was diagnosed just seven months earlier.

Lachie fought hard but “unfortunately, it was just too big a battle for him to win”.

Terang basketball president Belinda Dwyer said Lachie had been a beloved member of the Tornadoes for years, starting in juniors before breaking into the Country Basketball League senior ranks.

The Tornadoes will unveil his framed team shirt in a special presentation before their CBL clash with the Colac Kookas at Terang on Sunday.

“Lachie played through Terang Tornadoes’ junior representative program whilst also assistant coaching teams once he had finished in under-18s,” Dwyer said.

“He was only having the season off (during his cancer battle) and had all intentions on returning back to play the following season.

“The day I have planned is for the unveiling of his framed shirt which will be hung courtside, with his parents Jason and Amy along with sister Riley and extended family in attendance.”

Friends and family have already raised an incredible $61,000 of a $75,000 target for The Brain Cancer Centre in Lachie’s memory.

Dwyer said NBL club Melbourne United had also donated a family game pass which would be raffled off this Sunday, “raising some much-needed funds for the brain cancer centre”.

Stephenson endured surgery, radiation and participated in a clinical trial.

This was the same treatment used for this type of tumour in the 1960s; there have reportedly been no medical advancements in more than 60 years.

“We want to make sure that every Australian diagnosed with brain cancer has access to better treatments and clinical trials, to be given real hope for a positive outcome,” Dwyer
said.

“We want to see a day where no family has to lose someone to brain cancer,” she said.

“We’ve got a plan to achieve this vision but we can’t do this without your support.”

People can click here to support the cause.