Matilda Pitts is no stranger to extraordinary challenges — or extraordinary opportunities.

The former 2024 Telethon star has been in and out of treatment for the cancer she was diagnosed with at 12.

Matilda is now 15 and has no evidence of the disease in her body although she is battling other medical issues. She’s channelled her resilience and creativity into designing a training shirt for the West Coast Eagles.

Her custom top will be worn by the team before their Impact Round on Sunday, August 9. It’s bursting with flowers, butterflies, rainbows and dragonflies — the design is deliberately bold.

“I chose bright colours because I’ve come out of my treatment,” Matilda said. “There is also a silhouette of me on it — I’ve got the Crocs I always wear on and in it my hair is starting to grow back.”

She’s been quietly thrilled to keep the project under wraps.

“I’ve told people at school I’m working on something exciting, but I’ve signed a contract and I’m not allowed to say anything else,” she laughed.

After 18 months living between Perth Children’s Hospital and Crawford Lodge, Matilda and her family have recently moved back to their home in the South West, trying to reclaim a sense of normal life. That’s despite another devastating blow: her youngest sister Danika has brain cancer.

“We’ve moved back home, the girls are back at school, and my husband is back at work. We’re just trying to get back to some normality in between appointments and scans,” Matilda’s mum Natasha said.

“Danika is currently stable and off treatment, but has scans every three months. If there’s any growth, she’ll go back on treatment.”

Natasha said the Telethon collaboration has been a rare, joyful highlight for her daughter.

“To see her recognised in this way with the West Coast Eagles has been such a cool opportunity. It shows she’s not just a girl with cancer – she’s got a story, hopes and dreams behind her.

Fans will have the chance to bid on Matilda’s one-of-a-kind player-worn shirts, with every dollar raised going directly to Telethon.