04/05/2026
We have a very personal connection to Michele and his family. His dad, Rob, previously worked with us, and we’re fortunate to have his uncles, Frank and Sam, as part of our team.
Michele is surrounded by such a loving and supportive family and extended network — but no child should ever have to go through something like this.
As Michele prepares for the next stage of his fight, his family is facing significant emotional and financial challenges. We want to help raise awareness and reach out to our wider community for support.
If you or your business are in a position to offer financial assistance, resources, or any kind of support, it would make a meaningful difference to Michele and his family during this time.
Even simply sharing this post helps raise awareness and brings more people into Michele’s corner 🫶
Locals residents or businesses interested in offering financial or other support are encouraged to contact SRS Marketing and Events Coordinator Vinnie Rodi on 03 5039 5688 or email [email protected] for more information.
At first glance, Birdwoodton’s Michele Dichiera looks like any other 12-year-old. He, loves his sport – especially soccer, playing video games and spending time with his family.
Look closer, and you soon see that Michele has, unfortunately, had to endure more in his young life than most would in a lifetime. It’s a battle that is set to ramp up at an emotional and potential financial cost to his family over the coming weeks and months.
Michele was born with a giant cell angioblastoma in his right foot – an extremely rare, aggressive tumour that occurs in the soft tissue of children. One of only 20 known cases worldwide, patients often present with a growing, painful mass, and while the tumours are often low-grade and malignant, which is the case with Michele, they can cause significant damage to the surrounding tissue.
Michele is currently unable to bear any weight on his leg and requires a wheelchair to attend school. All current treatments are proving ineffective, leaving his specialists in Melbourne with two options – a trial medication called ‘Cabozantinib’ which they hope will heal the tumour, or, as a final resort, amputate Michele’s foot.
While an approved, subsidised medication in Australia for other specific, advanced cancers under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), Cabozantinib is not currently available to treat giant cell angioblastom under the PBS. As a result, the Dichiera’s are facing monthly bills of approximately $10,000 to utilise the drug in a last-ditch attempt to save Michele’s foot.
➡️ Locals residents or businesses interested in offering financial or other support are encouraged to contact SRS Marketing and Events Coordinator Vinnie Rodi on 03 5039 5688 or email [email protected] for more information.
ℹ️ Those interested can also contribute by donating directly via our online portal at https://tr.ee/SRSDonate - just leave message for Michele and we'll pass it on!
🗞️ Read more about Michele's story here: www.srsinc.com.au/micheles-ready-for-fight-of-lifetime
📸 Michele with his dad Robert, who is a member of the SRS family as part of our Maintenance Team