Noga Barkan was 16 and had been preparing to compete in the Rio Olympics as a rhythm gymnast. But the young Israeli awoke one morning with a swollen neck and knew something was wrong. She was later diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
“My life was turned upside down in every way possible. My family and I were in a whirlwind of emotions, getting treatment at the hospital, studying as best as I can to complete 11th grade and take my final exams while feeling mentally and physically sick,” remembered Barkan.
It was then that Make-A-Wish entered her life. “I was lying in the hospital, all I could think about was my teammates who were going to compete in the Olympics, and I wanted to be with them,” she told The AJN ahead of her visit to Melbourne for the Make-A-Wish Australia and Israel Shared Appeal.
Three years later, Barkan (19) is now in remission, and will be visiting Australia and New Zealand to share her story about how she has not only survived cancer – but has flourished.
Read the full story on the Australian Jewish News here.
Noga Barkan will be visiting Auckland with Denise Bar-Aharon, who is the CEO and Founder of Make-A-Wish Israel, over the coming week. Denise Bar-Aharon will be speaking at a number of events, one of which will be at Beth Shalom on Saturday 23 February.
