- Hugo Kulcsar was diagnosed with leukemia at just 11 years old
- The brave young man had to endure chemotherapy.
- Since making a full recovery, he has inspired those around him.
- Among them is Wallabies World Cup winner Owen Finegan.
A promising footballer for legendary Sydney rugby club Randwick has revealed how he tackled cancer head on after being diagnosed with leukaemia aged just 11.
Hugo Kulcsar also inspired Wallabies legend Owen Finegan, who knew the youngster personally through his own son.
Hugo, now 18, knew something was wrong when he felt a lump on the back of his head in June 2018.
After undergoing blood tests a few days later, he fainted and Hugo was then informed that he had cancer.
“Receiving that news was an absolute shock,” he said. News Corporation.
“My grandfather had it for 10 years and died three years before I was diagnosed. So I knew what it could be like.”
Chemotherapy followed and the side effects were significant.
They included a 15-centimeter blood clot in the brain and third-degree burns to the hands.
Hugo Kulcsar has revealed how he faced cancer head on after being diagnosed with leukaemia aged just 11 in 2018
Hugo Kulcsar inspired Wallabies great Owen Finegan, who knows the youngster personally after coaching his junior rugby team (pictured at the 1999 World Cup final)
Fast forward to 2024 and Hugo is cancer-free and well aware that he is one of the lucky ones.
Finegan, who scored the famous final try for Australia in the 1999 World Cup final against France, has been inspired by Hugo’s journey.
“I’m really proud of how resilient she is,” he said.
‘He’s a great kid, he’s inspired others in our sporting community simply by the perseverance he’s shown.
‘But also the attitude he has with his teammates and what he offers to the teams.
“The community around him supported him and supported him, and now he’s out there doing his thing and making them proud. It’s been amazing.”
Hugo was also recently announced as an ambassador for the 2024 Best Challenge, which aims to raise funds for young cancer patients.
The goal for participants is to do 3 kilometers of exercise per day during the month of September.