Fundraiser Launched To Support Island Family After Young Daughter Diagnosed With Rare Cancer

A fundraiser has been launched to support an Isle of Wight family after their 6-year-old daughter was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of childhood cancer.

Friends of Pete and Joanna Hunt have set up a GoFundMe campaign after their daughter, Tula, was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML).

Tula became unwell after struggling with infections for around a month before blood tests at St Mary's Hospital Newport revealed the devastating diagnosis.

The family were immediately transferred to the mainland for specialist treatment.

She is now receiving care at the Piam Brown Unit at Southampton Children's Hospital — one of only 22 regional paediatric oncology centres in the UK — where she has begun an intensive course of chemotherapy expected to last around five months.

Following that treatment, Tula is expected to undergo a bone marrow transplant at Royal Marsden Hospital in south London, meaning the family could remain on the mainland for much of 2026.

The diagnosis has come at an extraordinarily challenging time for the family.

Tula’s mum, Joanna, was in the final week of pregnancy when the diagnosis was confirmed.

Shortly afterwards, she gave birth to baby Leo at Princess Anne Hospital Southampton on 9th February.

Due to Tula’s treatment and infection control measures — including recovering from shingles and a respiratory infection — the family have had to spend long periods separated during the first weeks of the newborn’s life.

The Hunts also have a three-year-old daughter, Alora, who friends say the family are trying to support while balancing hospital treatment, recovery and caring for a newborn.

Joanna, who is originally from the United States, is a self-employed yoga teacher and coach, while Pete runs a leadership development platform and podcast called Monumental. Friends say Pete is expected to step away from work to support his family throughout Tula’s treatment.

Because of the specialist care required, the family have had to relocate from their Isle of Wight home to the mainland and will likely move between Southampton and London during the coming months.

The fundraiser aims to help cover accommodation, travel, living expenses and potential future medical costs, including stem cell storage for possible future treatments.

Organisers initially set a fundraising target of £75,000, but that has since been increased to £100,000 following confirmation that Tula will need a bone marrow transplant.

Friends say the funds will help give the family “breathing room” so they can focus fully on supporting Tula during treatment.

Donations can be made online via the fundraising page here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/pete-jo-tula-and-their-family