At 3 years old, Ethan Lauro was diagnosed with a medulloblastoma, a type of brain tumour. What followed was surgery, then months of treatment. His family travelled from Busselton, WA to Perth and stayed at Ronald McDonald House WA for 252 nights.
His parents still talk about it. The relief of having somewhere to go each night. The warmth. The people. The feeling that, even in the middle of fear and uncertainty, they were not alone.
You can learn more about how Ronald McDonald House WA supports families at https://ronaldmcdonaldhousewa.org.au/
Ethan was too young to remember every detail, but some moments have stayed with him.
“The one thing I do remember… we were all living in the units across from the House. We had a play area in the middle and we rode tricycles, chased each other, played and laughed,” he says. “We were just enjoying the time we had together while our parents watched on.”
As Ethan grew older, that experience stayed close. He started showing up for Ride for Sick Kids WA as a kid, cheering from the sidelines. He met riders, heard their stories, and saw the effort behind every kilometre. Even as a child, that connection ran deeper, at just eight years old for his birthday party, he asked for donations to Ride for Sick Kids WA instead of presents.
“It’s all for a good cause,” Ethan said back in 2023. “You’re riding to raise money for sick kids and their families so that they can have a home when they need it most.”
After years of watching, in 2023 Ethan joined the ride as a participant.
“When I completed the ride, I fully understood why we do what we do,” he says. “We ride for the kids… that’s what keeps bringing me back.”
After finishing school, Ethan stepped into the workforce, spending several years working as a lifeguard and pool operator. Today, he is studying a Bachelor of Commerce at Curtin University, majoring in Accounting and Finance, with ambitions to move into law. The transition has taken him from Busselton to Perth, and into a completely different pace of life.
University has challenged him in new ways. Living on campus, meeting new people, and stepping into the unknown has built a sense of independence that only comes with change.
“It has enabled me to grow and become independent,” he says. “Surprisingly, the career path I’ve chosen has been a good choice, and I’m really enjoying the challenges of uni.”
No matter where life has taken Ethan, one thing has remained constant: his connection to Ride for Sick Kids WA and Ronald McDonald House WA. He continues to show up in whatever way he can.
This year, we are lucky to have Ethan joining us in Mandurah for our Friday night function, where he will be there to show his support and reconnect with the Ride for Sick Kids WA community.
“It’s all for a good cause,” he said. “You’re riding to raise money for sick kids and their families so that they can have a home when they need it most.”
For families arriving in Perth, often with little notice and no clear idea of what comes next beyond their child’s treatment, Ronald McDonald House WA removes the uncertainty of where to stay during an incredibly difficult time. That was the reality for Ethan’s family, travelling from Busselton and suddenly needing to be close to care.
“For some families, it is a home away from home,” Ethan says. “It allowed us not to worry about where we would sleep each night… the house provided a place of comfort and support during a very scary time.”
Ride for Sick Kids WA has raised more than $4.2 million over the past 13 years. In 2026, the ride continues.
Families across Western Australia are still travelling long distances for treatment. They still need somewhere to stay.
You can donate today or learn more about how you can support families through Ride for Sick Kids WA: https://wafundraising.rmhc.org.au/event/rfsk-wa-2026/
