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Melbourne teen with just weeks to live makes 'bucket list' of adventures

A Melbourne boy diagnosed with leukemia has just weeks to live, but he is making every day count by ticking off a bucket list of fun adventures.

The family of Josh, 15, have gone to an almighty effort to boost their beloved son and brother's spirits in his final weeks, endeavouring to make all of his dreams come true.

The 15-year-old was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia at just 13, an aggressive cancer of the blood and bone marrow.

READ MORE: Asthma attack leaves Victorian boy hospitalised

Sister Alayna Sangston, 25, told 9news.com.au they decided to launch a GoFundMe fundraiser to inject some fun into Josh's life after coming to terms with the fact he doesn't have long to live.

The money raised will be spent on incredible experiences he can share with his family and friends, who want nothing more than to cherish every last moment with him.

So far Josh has ticked off activities such as go-karting, gold class, a city helicopter ride, watching Essendon play in a corporate box and an animal encounter experience at Healesville Sanctuary from his bucket list.

READ MORE: Aussie parents 'shocked' after son diagnosed with rare melanoma

The 15-year-old has been brainstorming fun-filled experiences on a whiteboard in his room at the Royal Children's Hospital.

"I just want him to know that he's loved and that we want to spend time with him and that he is important to us and try to distract him from what is going on," Ms Sangston said.

"Also for all of us as well, it gives us an opportunity to build more memories with him."

More than 3700 Australians are diagnosed with a form of leukemia each year, it being the most common type of cancer found in people under 24.

Of those, about 1400 cases are acute leukemia, according to the Cancer Council.

Ms Sangston said her brother's diagnosis had shocked the family, as he had been in remission for about four months before his condition took a turn for the worse.

"His cancer cells were up 80 percent, they had basically told us after some tests that his body wouldn't be well enough to go through another round of intensive chemo," she said.

READ MORE: Melbourne man's shock cancer diagnosis after beers with mates

"He wouldn't have much of his body left going through that.

"They think the leukemia will take over in about two weeks. So they gave a third option … it's not enough to fight the cancer, but it's enough to slow the progression.

"The fact that it has come back now has been really shocking.

"It went from he's not feeling well, to he's only got weeks to live really quickly."

The experiences on his wishlist are very humble, with many just simple, yet meaningful requests, including a family BBQ. His family also threw him an early 16th birthday party.

Other things on his list include fishing and going on a cable cart at Arthur's Seat on the Mornington Peninsula.

"All the things he wants to do are simple things, he really just wants to spend time with family," Ms Sangston said.

"We are just doing what we can … it was important to me to do everything I could for Josh."

She described her brother as a "brave" teenager who loves footy and the outdoors, including fishing, camping, and of course, playing video games.

"He's been through a lot and he's really taking it in his stride," Ms Sangston said.

"He seems to make peace with it. He just wants to make the most of the time he has.

"We are all just proud of him."

More than $10,000 has been raised and any money left over will be donated to the Piggy Bank Appeal.

Experts continue vaccine defence despite ongoing links to blood clots

Leading health experts have continued to defend COVID-19 vaccines amid links to blood clots, ensuring Australians that any risk of serious side effects from the jab are extremely rare.

Chair for the Coalition of Epidemic Preparedness, and former Secretary of the Australian Department of Health, Jane Halton, said that such events occur in about "four in a million" people.

Yesterday, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) confirmed that the death of a 48-year-old woman who developed blood clots days after receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine is "likely" linked to the jab.

READ MORE: Military to oversee Australia's COVID vaccine rollout

Despite this, Ms Dalton says, it is important Australians understand that the risk of COVID-19 is far greater than that of any vaccine.

"We know that the TGA has suggested that there is likely a link between this death and the use of the vaccine," she said on Today.

"This is sad. We know these rare events occur at about four in a million and sadly, a quarter of those events do result in death.

"I do think it is important to keep it in that broader perspective because we know that the risk from COVID-19 is much greater."

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Ms Dalton said that people must remember the millions of deaths are attributed to the coronavirus around the world compared to a very small number of deaths linked to vaccines.

"We see every single event that occurs when a vaccine is administered and we think, 'Oh, that's terrible, that might happen to me' but that is not what is likely to happen," she said.

"It's important we keep in perspective the millions of people who have died around the world from COVID-19.

"I would encourage you to, when your time is up, if it is your time on the list, if you're worried, go and talk to your doctor.

"But I am over 50, I will be taking the AstraZeneca vaccine as soon as it's my turn in the queue."

Woolies staff fitted with body cameras amid steep rise in abuse

Staff at Woolworths will wear police-style body cameras in a new trial being rolled out across the country to combat a steep rise in abuse on employees.

New statistics revealed by the Shop Distributive and Allied Employees Association revealed that up to 85 per cent of staff working at Woolworths stores have experienced some kind of verbal, physical or sexual assault while on shift.

The abuse has skyrocketed since the outbreak of the pandemic and the new body cameras – which will be trialled in 11 stores across the country – began recording two weeks ago.

READ MORE: TGA finds NSW woman's death 'likely' linked to AstraZeneca vaccine

The cameras are similar to those worn by police officers, with managers having the ability to turn the cameras on if they feel that a situation is escalating or becoming dangerous.

Audio won't be recorded on the devices and the only people who will be able to view the footage are Woolworths' security and legal teams.

Last year, footage emerged of a number of brawls in the aisles of supermarket stores following a wave of panic buying after lockdown announcements.

READ MORE: Supermarket panic buying returns ahead of Brisbane lockdown