🔥 EPISODE 52 – PART 3 (FINAL): REN PEDERSEN OAM 🎙️ Pain Into Purpose – The Final Chapter

🔥 EPISODE 52 – PART 3 (FINAL): REN PEDERSEN OAM
🎙️ Pain Into Purpose – The Final Chapter

This is it, legends… the final chapter of one of the most powerful stories ever told on Who Is Your Hero.

If you’ve followed Part 1 and Part 2, you already know — this isn’t just a podcast… this is a journey.

A journey through:
 💔 heartbreak
 💪 resilience
 👨‍👧 fatherhood
 🔥 purpose
 🇦🇺 mateship
 …and what happens when a man refuses to let tragedy be the end of the story.

In Part 3, we go deeper than ever.

This is where Ren opens up about:
 • Life after loss
 • The memories that never leave
 • The mates that carry you
 • The truth about asking for help
 • The role of faith, purpose, and meaning
 • And why sometimes… the smallest moments matter the most

You’ll hear raw honesty.
 You’ll hear humour.
 You’ll hear pain.
 And you’ll hear something even more powerful…

👉 hope

❤️ At the centre of everything is Amy

A daughter.
 A fighter.
 A legacy.

This episode lands as we reflect on the anniversary of Amy’s passing — so we ask you to take a moment… a real moment… to honour her, and every family walking this road right now.

💥 NOW IT’S YOUR TURN TO HELP

Ren isn’t just telling a story — he’s building a mission.

👉 Ren’s Million Dollar Mission is funding critical research into DIPG — one of the most aggressive childhood brain cancers in the world.

And right now, Ren is chasing something BIG:

💥 THE 1000 CLUB
👉 1,000 people donating $1,000 each

If you’re in a position to give — this is your moment.

🔗 Donate here:
 👉 www.ccia.org.au/event/rens-million-dollar-mission/home

Even if you can’t donate — share it, talk about it, spread it.

Because this is how change happens.

🙏 On behalf of every DIPG family in the fight:

THANK YOU.

🎧 Listen now:
 👉 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2601611/episodes/18935435

💛 Support the podcast & help us keep sharing these stories:
 👉 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2601611/support

🌍 Learn more about the mission:
 👉 www.rensmilliondollarmission.com

This is more than an episode.

This is legacy.
 This is purpose.
 This is what a real hero looks like.

🎙️ Episode 52 – Part 3: Ren Pedersen OAM – AVAILABLE NOW

#WhoIsYourHero #HeroUp #RenPedersen #RensMillionDollarMission #DIPG #ChildhoodCancer #MensMentalHealth #Resilience #Community #AussiePride #RealTalk #PodcastAustralia

Transcript

SPEAKER_03 1:27

Welcome back to Who is Your Hero? This is part three of my conversation with Ren Peterson. The fourth chapter in a story that has been as raw, powerful, heartbreaking, inspiring as any we've shared on this podcast. And if you've been with us through part one and part two, you'll know exactly why this series matters. Because this hasn't just been a conversation. It's been a journey into grief, fatherhood, resilience, purpose, and most of all, a journey into what one man can do when his life hits him hard in the balls with the kind of pain most people would never recover from. In part one, we met the man behind the mission, not the order of Australia man, not the public figure, not the fundraiser, not the human headlines. We met the boy from the Burkett and the crane driver, the father, the bloke that built on loyalty, honesty, work, ethic, and old school belief that when you shake a hand and give your word, you stand by it. Then we walked into the unimaginable, the diagnosis of his beautiful daughter, Amy with DIPG, the most aggressive childhood brain cancers in the world. And we heard what it did to the father, what it did to the family, what it did to hope, what it did to life itself. But out of the darkness came a promise, and that promise became a mission in part two. We saw what happened next. We saw the comeback, recalibration, rebuilding, the grind, the purpose. We heard how Ren, in his 50s, in the middle of chaos, divorce, business stress, and burnout decided to go and get his commercial helicopter license. Because some blokes don't know how to stay down, they only know how to reset and get off their ass again. We heard about Ren's million dollar mission, we heard about serious momentum, we heard about the power of community, we heard about the incredible donation from the Nielsen Foundation 250 Large, a huge show of belief in what Ren and Megan are building. And through it all, one thing kept ringing out louder. This mission isn't built on talk. It's built on action, courage, and love. And it's built on a father refusing to let his daughter's story end in silence. And now here we are at part three. The last part of this series. And in many ways, this is the deepest chapter of all. Because now that you know the man, now that you know the mission, now that you know the fight, we get to the heart of what really drives Ren Peterson. This is where we talk about mateship, the power of asking for help, and what it means to sit beside someone in the trenches. About doctors, nurses, footy mates, golf club mates, the kinds of everyday legends who help carry people when they're running on empty. This is where we talk about loss in its rawest form, the memories that never leave you, the moments that stop in time, the days that divide your life into before and after. This is where we talk about Amy again. Not just the reason for the mission, but as a daughter, a little girl, a soul, a memory, a legacy that still moves through everything Wren does. And this is also where we ask the bigger questions. Questions about faith, about purpose, about whether life is planned or random, about whether suffering can leave something meaningful behind, about what keeps a man going when he's seen things no parent should ever have to see. There are some beautiful moments in this final chapter, some funny moments too, because that's life, isn't it? Even in the heavy stuff, humor still sneaks through. There are moments about fishing, family, mateships, about Johnny Cash, about memories that carry us, about why sometimes the most powerful thing you can do in life is not to wait, but to ask, to act, to show up, and to love your people while they're still there. That's really what this whole series has been about. Not staying down, not waiting for the perfect moment, not assuming people know how much they matter, just living it, saying it, and doing it. So here we are right now, in the car on the tools, at home, walking the dog, sitting quietly with your own thoughts, settle in for the final part of the most moving conversation we've had on who is your hero. It's a story about grief, about grit, and it's a story about legacy. It's a story about the underdogs, fighters, and everyday heroes. And this is the last chapter in a three-part journey of Wren Peterson. Episode 52, part three. And now, legends, we pick up where we left off.

SPEAKER_02 6:07

I've round around the world and doing the conferences and I can I can shake someone's hand and if I can tell them I'll help them. Just tell me what you want me to do. And if I can't, I'll just say no. If I can, it just so happens that money's most of the thing these researchers need. So fundraising is the best way that I can do to help them now.

SPEAKER_03 6:28

Yeah, and a lot of people I find now coming outside of everything, they're afraid to ask someone for help. But do you know what? Generally most people are good people. And you can if you're in the doldrums, that ask. Ask because people don't know what's going on until you ask, but and don't feel don't feel guilty about it because the person you're probably asking has probably suffered it too, you know? Um getting just back to that medical sort of I like if you're not in my canoe, you I'm gonna I'll get someone else the fucking paddle. Well, basically I've got a Dr. Vickers as my renal. He's um a great man, he stubby Sri Lankan, I think, 60 kilos drip and wet, and I'm six foot free, and give you a cattle, I'll break as many ribs as I can. And I go into the renal ward, give him a high five, and he'll f full his hand down. But this guy wouldn't laugh when I met him.

SPEAKER_01 7:31

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 7:31

He was just telling me, you do this, you do this. But over the journey of eight months, he's understanding me a lot more and saying, I'm not that person. I understand that, but one shoe doesn't fit all. If you're not gonna back me and listen to me, and I'll often go into the rental or to see the girls or take them Krispy Kreme doughnuts or something because nurses need more recognition as you as but I'll go and sit in Vickers' consulting room and he'll and I'll be sitting in the chair, and he'll walk back in his room. He goes, Am I seeing you today? And I said, Nah, just sort of drop in, I'll miss you. And he's like dumbfounded, but I've created this. He's gotta understand me for him to understand me. And he he's on my side. He keeps saying, When he when do you want me to get you a kidney? I say, mate. I don't want one, but that relationship what what I'm trying to hit here, Ren, a doctor's adopter, okay? They're deemed to be elite or better than us, okay? But if you can get if you if you're suffering anything, get on a level that is so personable with your doctor, because he'll go there.

SPEAKER_02 8:40

Yeah, yeah. He'll he he actually wants to fix you. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Yeah. Don't be afraid to even ask them, especially when you're new. Excuse me, buddy. Do you mind if I just record this? Because I just want to take the same what you're telling me. Yeah. And and if they're bullet and they've got nothing but let you record. Yeah, I mean, because it's especially in brain cancer stuff, it's overwhelming. Well, you've experienced, you know, you've experienced shopping medical diagnosis. Yeah. Take it home in a bad of your way that, you know, um, yeah, you've I think having a rapport, and it's like, I guess, a work aspect or whatever, you've got to have a rapport. Um a dysfunctional business has a disconnect between management and a workforce. You've got to have that rapport. Um, and if you don't, yeah, tell them to get out and give someone. I think there's a great statement.

SPEAKER_03 9:28

Um if I'm gonna if you're gonna ask me m my opinion on something and I'll give you something you don't want to hear, here's the matches, go and light the bridge up. Because and I I think people can have a different opinion. Yeah, if you ask me something, man, I'm not gonna f piss in your pocket and tell you it's raining. I'm gonna say, okay. You know, and I was pretty lucky with my mates. The connection I had with the footy, I thought me. Yeah, yeah. Call me out. And I I'd accept it from them. In fact, I accept any anyone that wants to call me out and have a crack, yeah, that's good, but be prepared.

SPEAKER_02 10:06

I think Australian mateship again is something that is not you're not gonna see it written now. What is it is it is it's about when when guys need help and you and you can talk about supple z without sort of laying it out there, you know, have a beer with a mate, and he'll know if you need a a a little bit of a pat on the back or I think Australian mateship and that ability that you can we can help whether or not that stems from the from our uh our past or or or wars or whatever. We do support our mates. And we've got to support them more in person, but you know, we've got to get together, have a coffee, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 10:46

Yeah, have a yarn.

SPEAKER_02 10:47

Because ultimately though, I I just my very first fundraising event was at the Townsville Golf Club. With Apex. Good guys, right? These were mates, these were these were good guys. God, we used to get up to some shenanigans. Anyway, lost my daughter, then my father died within the year. So my first ever fundraiser was from memory at uh first ever golf day was at Townsend. So at the start of the day, the guy convening it, um, Alex Dickens and Gren, um it's all going to plan, but we're one golf buggy down for the beer cart. And I said, you know, look, leave that to me. It can't be that hard. He said, Wren, you'll never get a golf body. People guard those scenes with their lives since golf buggy. Anyway, I said, just leave it with me. That's easy. If I can cure cancer, I can get a golf buggy, huh? And you know, he goes away, and next thing, ringing, phone rings, it's Steve Price, footy oh. And I'm doing an interview with Pricey about the I took Snuff though, I've got him. Anyway, as I'm talking, this lady starts screaming out. Hell and I said, Oh Pricey, I've got to go. So I go over, and there's this, she's trying to turn this guy over. He's lying with his head on the side of a golf cart. Roll him over. I come over rolling over. He's having a heart attack, this aren't he? So anyway, I roll him over. Anyway, he's looking at me. So I start giving him mouth to mouth, and he starts like half spitting up all this brand shit. So I'm working on him pretty hard for five minutes, and he's like, Can someone get an ambulance here? So they race off and um then the barman came down, so we'll start a working tag team on this father. Then his colour started coming back. Anyway, I'm saying, where's the fucking doctor or something? And there was a bloke behind me just finished off. He said, mate, he said, I'm a doctor. Give it away, he's dead. Anyway, I'm still pumping on this guy's chest, looking him in the eye. This fucked on, I felt much old bowing him back. And I said to our mate on the ground, ignore him, mate, ignore him. You know, handle it's on its way, don't ignore him. Anyway, cut a long story short, Buzz, the handless wrapped up, and then they worked on him for I don't know, 10 or 15 minutes after that. And this bloke died in my arms at the at this golf day. I watched him put him up on the on the uh stretcher, put him in the handless. I got all this shit to load me from the helmet. Anyway, I walk around the corner and they were opening the golf day and the and the the announcer, oh, and here's Ren to open the Apex Golf Day, take it away. And he gives me a mic. Yeah, well guys, um, yeah, knock yourselves out today and and and have some.

SPEAKER_01 13:31

Yes, just switch that.

SPEAKER_02 13:32

Yeah. So anyway, I hand the microphone back. Anyway, the other guy comes over and said, Oh Ren, how'd you go with that with the beer cart? And I said, Oh, shit. I thought. Anyway, I thought, well, hang on. Old Mater just died. That was his beer, that was his golf buggy. So I went and got that golf buggy and we used that for the beer cart. I said, Job dumb. I told you to do So then I got some beers out of the beer cart and there was another guy there, and maybe had a beer for him. Yeah, there was a guy there in the cart with me. Um, I won't mention his name. Pretty well-known businessman here in Townsel, Keater Fraser. Anyway. He's gone, oh, he said, I couldn't possibly have a beer. That's the most traumatic thing I've ever witnessed in my life. I said, no, not quite. That was what first uh vet chap you golf done.

SPEAKER_03 14:17

This episode of Who is Your Hero was proudly recorded at one of Townshill's absolute gems, the Seabar restaurant right on the strand. And let me tell you, legends, what a spot. A beautiful food, beautiful stuff, beautiful view straight across to Magnetic Island, and most importantly, beautiful people behind the scenes. Seabar isn't just a place to grab a meal or a drink, it's a place that genuinely backs the community. They've been great supporters of Wren's Million Dollar Mission, and they were kind enough to host this powerful conversation with Ren Peterson in a setting that matched the story. Quality, class, warmth, and heart. So whether you're chasing a coffee, a long lunch, dinner with a view, or you just want to sit back with a drink and soak in one of the best outlooks Townsville has to offer, get yourself down to the C-Bar on the Strand. Support the people who support the community, support the people who open their doors for great causes, and support a venue that does things the right way. C-Bar Restaurant, great food, great people, great heart. And tell them Buzz Senior. Oh yeah. I don't know if this is a rhetorical question or not, because I know losing your daughter would be it's hard day. And I'm not discounting that. But what what's been the hardest day of this journey for you apart? I mean, there's nothing harder than that. Is i is has there been a a there's made nothing harder than that?

SPEAKER_02 15:58

Yeah. Um I carry my daughter out I put her in a body bag. Yeah. So zipped that bag up. It's kinda everything else is there's been a few tough times. Yeah. I've been through a very but nothing affairs. Nothing. I you know, I've had a the the marriage breakup was very ugly and there's stuff with that. Um I Yeah, no, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 16:21

So when when you're alone and you did you did go into hibiscus for a little while and the world went quiet, what memories come back to you most?

SPEAKER_02 16:30

You know my daughter loved fishing in the outdoors and um and just the memories of her like when she was crooked man, she'd still loved to get outside even though she couldn't. I used to carry her down to the beach um and she lost the use of one arm, so I'd help her with the other arm. So that even though we could look at that that she's debilitated and and and and and a cripple essentially, but she would still smile and it was yeah. Being with my my daughter we had a special bond that I'd I'd you know I cling on to that was a happy memory. Buzz, you know.

SPEAKER_03 17:08

See how I I say to a lot of people who I'm eating on the show that if you go through a dark time, grab a memory and go back and take that deep breath, put the memory back in your head and have a smile. Yeah. And and that memory might be uh look, I I remember as I said to you earlier, my Dan Syndrome brother was two years older than me and he ended up look I could I could blew all this hope that it was uh 'cause he went downhill after that. But I remember seeing him and not being he couldn't talk very well anyway, his whole life, but sitting there with my mother and the three of us held hands on his final breath. He ended up getting um his lungs and couldn't breathe and all that. And I've got a photo of it a and the joy that I was there. He had a bit of dementia. With mum's hand and my hand on his hand. If I'm having a bad day, I'll get that photo out of my phone or create that memory again in my mind and I'm away again.

SPEAKER_02 18:17

And mate, if someone said, yeah, there's a house in Narrow longer here, you want that house or you want that memory at five.

SPEAKER_03 18:23

And it wasn't when I'm saying it wasn't a memory of, oh, I've got great memories with my mates getting piss-wrecked and stealing motorbikes, you know what in in in uh Fiat or wherever, right? And cheating death. But these special memories here about life and death, you can't you can't erase them. And it it to the listeners, it seems funny that one of my most memories is that on his final breath. Do you know what I'm trying to describe? I do.

SPEAKER_01 18:52

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 18:53

Was it when he took his final breath? Did you see a um a turtle of peace peace there? It's a powerful thing to see a to see a bottom thing. Just free of pain and free of physical challenges.

SPEAKER_03 19:10

Yeah. That was And one of the most beautiful parts is that we were locked down so hard in Melbourne that they they they gave Dan Andrews a dick. Opened everything up for one week, and we were allowed to celebrate his funeral, and um they uh I I I was a pallbearer with my nephews. Her father just couldn't do it, but it it we carried the coffin out always up on the bright side of life. And that song Because that was humour.

SPEAKER_01 19:42

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 19:43

You might have been having a bad day, but a Dan Sim game, you walk in, man, and they give you a throw. I think they're beautiful. They give you a fucking cuddle. They don't care. They're they're like and I I don't like using this phrase, but they're like a dog. They're just waiting for their next feed or their next pat or their next cuttle and you know what the world needs more than that. Oh no.

SPEAKER_02 20:02

The world needs more of that. I know it is a massive, massive uh influence on me, but um I probably shouldn't say, but when when when Bub died, um I had a fishing trip booked that night, but I never cancelled because and squim people say they're gonna die soon. Well how soon assume? And fishing has always been I like a beer, but fishing is my battery charger.

SPEAKER_01 20:25

Yeah, you know.

SPEAKER_02 20:26

And you know, Bub passed away that morning, and then I still had this fishing trip and a mate sent me a text to her phone, I can't, you're coming out tonight, you know. And I thought, well, am I gonna sit here and just fry all night? Or would Bub wanna see me happy? So I went out on that trip that night. So it was cold and it was callous that the kid could appear. I don't think so. You know, I was out there and with mates were on this boat and everyone they just knew, you know, so you can we can all be somber or we can just was really respectful and and powerful. Do you know what it means? Yeah. There was no need for sedatives or anything. You're just out with mates, you know, and not question you. So I'll just sit up to bed. I knew I was going on just look at the stars, yeah, ever. Um yeah, so I I've got guys that went out that night that I'm very thankful. Do you do you think of that time you were almost um what's a word?

SPEAKER_03 21:26

Do it did you think you were doing the wrong thing at Nah?

SPEAKER_02 21:32

Again, when you're in the public spotlight, which uh I've since you're sort of like, oh, well I would never mention that. People think, oh, this whole shallow net. But I don't think it is. I just do that whenever I'm feeling sad, I think now would would my daughter want me to feel sad or happy. No, for the way and again again to try for those who who are who are feeling a little bit melancholy, you want who would whoever's in your circles or whoever's yucky at you from from. Or whatever to feel look at you and feel sad. Just be happy, man. Absolutely. And I take it I all human, we're all gonna feel melancholy.

SPEAKER_03 22:08

Yeah, you know, my brother taught me to not not die waiting. Yeah. Because the Down syndrome, I mean, I'd see a hot chick, right, when I was a young fella, I'd go, phool, that's too that's too good for me. Yeah. He would launch straight at her, and he was only a little fella, his head straight in their tits. Give him a cuddle and go, I love you. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And I'll sit I'm sitting back not asking the question, so I thought, I'm gonna fucking try that. Now, I got a few slaps and all that sort of thing. But do you know that's I I when you dig about I get a few tingles talking about him because that's my mission now. He's left me with this legacy, and and I approach people to come on this podcast now. I'm not waiting for him to I'm emailing these people I see, and it's not Donald Trump or not that I'd have those assholes on anyway, or or or our Prime Minister. But I'm looking at this following these social media feeds, I'm just seeing someone doing something good. Now I wouldn't have got that if I sat back. Yeah, yeah, that's right. Do you know what all as they could say is no? All as they can say is no, and I'm gonna go back to why I'm talking about it, because all as someone can say to you, if you ask a hundred people to for help, even if 99 of them say no, you're gonna get one, aren't you?

SPEAKER_02 23:29

Mate, you're talking to somebody fundraises for a lot of the time. I essentially sucked up to people. So I get hit no with a lot of them you don't like. And as I getting a little bit older and more blunt, I I I can be a little bit more for your feels a better now, you reckon? Uh yeah, I'm not I'm certainly uh I'm a lot calmer now. I don't get um Yeah, I'm not I'm I'm not as abrupt or cranky like I used to, you know.

SPEAKER_03 24:00

If your daughter was dying, I didn't so I can be a little bit more dipped than you know what I think that is, and it's happened to me, my energy and my presence and whatever it is at the moment, I'm I'm not attracting fuckwits. Because yeah, fuckwits don't want to come near you when you're putting out where you put it out. So I think that's that's a growth in us. Yeah, yeah, and I'm different to yours, so but it's it's the same. But I'm just wandering down positive people attract positive people. Absolutely. You know what I mean? But if you're in that mindset of the world's gonna fall, you're gonna get those fuckers, aren't you? Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 24:39

And I can dance between and I just come back whatever I'm not chest beating. But I I can I can go to I can go wear penguin suits at one thing, I can go work at the waterfronts with with with guys at the other. Um and you'll you'd be the same. But it's funny that the guys are different levels of conversation, it essentially good people will will come.

SPEAKER_03 25:05

Yeah, I reckon that's a that's a great yana. But um lost retrain of thought there, where were we? Let me go back to la uh one last question. No, not really the last one, but we're getting close. So do you feel like this mission became something you were meant to do even though the path was unimaginable?

SPEAKER_02 25:25

Um I'm I'm at the cusp of of realizing that there could be um trying to be diplomatic here. Like when my daughter was I grew up pretty I grew up Catholic, went to church every Sunday, bloody bloody blah. Um shit goes down, you pray, give your best shot. Well, no, I don't. I don't. But when my daughter was diagnosed, you're talking to a man who has prayed more than any person here and used to sit with mummy, and we used to pray and when she passed away, and she was tortured to death, man. I'm telling her, tortured to death for every sacred of her body, and I have this hostile thing. How can a god, the god, whatever god let an innocent child be tortured to death through every sacred of body? How can how can this be? So you question your faith, you question everything, you know. You don't take someone, take me, man. I'm a rat bag. Rap bag. So I I just I've never prayed, I don't pray since love passed away because I thought, well, he's not listening to me. But other people can, that's good. Go for like Jesus, Buddha, Allah. Who cares? I pray, do it more. If you're whoever's listening, nudge the world. Yeah, and if it helps you getting out of bed, do it. But in recent times, and since I've reconnected and found my soul mate, I haven't I do have an emotional appreciation that I'm slowly possibly gravitating back to, Buzz. And from the death of my daughter and and the and the scores of other children across Australia, North Queensland, you know, there's Sammy. I I know family's in a town. I've got a mate of Monty Towns with here, Buzz. He's lost both these kids to braycants, and like, you know. So from all this tragedy, we've now got research happening that is passing the batch among to future kids. So if there's a possible meaning for the the loss of these young kids' lives, I guess like in a war, we've lost these kids at the trenches, there could possibly be long-term benefits. I'm starting to realize that now that their sacrifice might be worthwhile. So yeah. Yeah, I meant I will, but I kind of I don't know. I meant a part. I think it's important to have some talk with faith, whether it be a whatever, I think it's flipped.

SPEAKER_01 27:54

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 27:54

This episode of Who is Your Hero was proudly recorded at one of Townsell's absolute gems, the Seabar restaurant right on the strand. And let me tell you, legends, what a spot. Beautiful food, beautiful stuff, beautiful views straight across to Magnetic Island, and most importantly, beautiful people behind the scenes. Seabar isn't just a place to grab a meal or a drink, it's a place that genuinely backs the community. They've been great supporters of Wren's Million Dollar Mission, and they were kind enough to host this powerful conversation with Ren Peterson in a setting that matched the story. Quality, class, warmth, and heart. So whether you're chasing a coffee along lunch, dinner with a view, or you just want to sit back with a drink and soak in one of the best outlooks Townsville has to offer, get yourself down at the C-Bar on the Strand. Support the people who support the community, support the people who open their doors for great causes, and support a venue that does things the right way. C-Bar Restaurant, great food, great people, great heart. And Talum Buzz Sendya.

SPEAKER_02 29:13

But I I go, there's a there's a little it's called Northern Beaches Connection, a little church uh out where we are at North Shore. I go there every every sort of whenever I get a chance, every month or two, and just disconnect, you know. I'll sit at the back and just have good music, it's good. It's good. It's not about Danny's good ones.

SPEAKER_03 29:32

Yeah, and and a lot of people say our life was planned for us. But uh it could be, it couldn't, and uh it's pretty deep. So before no, I'll do it now because then I can wind it up. So how how do people donate to this cause? How do they find it? What what what can um you say it's it's it's fairly weak.

SPEAKER_02 29:54

If people want to make impactful, the most impactful um um uh value for money donation in their life, yeah, jump on just Google Ren's million dollar mission. Yeah, we're targeting the toughest ailment known to science, um the potential to save to cure not only children's brain cancer, but to solve a myriad of of other um um ailment cars for uh cancers and and other conditions is there. Um so just don't fluff around with anything else. You just Doric, just Google Ren's million dollar mission. Simple as that. And that's that's how they can do it. Simple as that. You know, if you wanna leave some money in your will, leave you know, make a monthly donation. Um this is something that if it was done, if we were donated to this cause, buzz 40, 30 years ago, 20 years ago, I'll be sitting here and having coffee with my daughter. So the more action the more donations we get's gonna expedite this tours for these kids and say to Lord and we're getting results now. Oh I made all here stuff in the trying to get this delivered. It's it's a I'd be up there in the boat fishing if I didn't think it was I'm gonna see this um rug delivered into the mouths of these kids. We're gonna ring the bell near the town hospital to say one of these DIVG kids is cured, which has never happened before. And when that happens, it's gonna be it's gonna be akin to Neil Armstrong walking on the moon. It's a big thing. Um and we're well on the way.

SPEAKER_03 31:22

That's beautiful, man. And get behind Ren's million dollar mission. You just heard it from the man himself, and sitting here, I feel, feel the energy. So your life journey so far, because I believe music is a beautiful thing. What song would it be and why?

SPEAKER_02 31:42

That old wheel. That old wheel. Well, Johnny Cash and Dank Williams Jr. Not many people know, I'm a b I'd probably be. I'd be very surprised if anyone in Australia has a bigger Johnny Cash uh music collection than me, I've mentioned something about this. Yeah, so I I in recent years not so much, but um on this this musical journey, um I came to be friends with Johnny Cash's people. Uh Johnny Cash is um first and assistant close friend, a guy called Bill Miller's a good friend of Ryan. And in 201 gets away, I think 2012-ish or something like that, I was asked to go on a cruise with Johnny Cash's family and all his all the El Sun Records guys. So I flew over to LA and we went on this cruise. And um man, out of the blue buzz, um because I have little amphitheaters on that cruise ship. Yeah, and I met all um John Sam and his his band. Um one part I I sang on stage with John Terrace's band, even though I can't sing. Um then in the midst of it all, they played a song that I played at my boiler's single. I don't know how they sound out about it called That Old Wheel. Um I know it when I played it and probably looked at it. Well, it's it's it's I don't think it was like an a hit song, but it should have been it's a catchy, fantastic song. Um So they they did a concert for my daughter, a tribute concert. Played that old real Donny Cash on the Shed El Mill on the Shit Blew Me Away, I never knew about it. And that song, you know, um I sung that uh uh we played that song at Bub's funeral, and then it was yeah, so that was so that's your go-to song in the toughest moments. Play that song every um um yes, that's uh play that song on my daughter's birthday. That that's kind of the song that reminds me most. And it's that you listen to the lyrics of it. Um that's what I love about it. Easier to understand.

SPEAKER_03 33:36

That's what I love about music, the lyrics. Yeah. Now, isn't I don't know if you've listened to um my podcast with Rick White, Front Porch America yet. Yeah. Do you know he interviewed this is really funny because it was Johnny Cash. You've heard him talking about that, yeah. Was it the the nephew or this there was some Johnny Cash is it? Because he's a Johnny Cash fan.

SPEAKER_02 33:55

Yeah, yeah. Um there's a lot of kids and a lot is there? Told about dysfunctional families. Well, it is did Johnny did Johnny like um, you know, uh Well Yeah, I don't think he had so many kids out of Wedlock. I'm not gonna go that far, but but he had he had four daughters of his own. Uh June Carter had two daughters, and then they had a a son, John Tardicktow. So there's there's um seven kids there, all with grandkids in it.

SPEAKER_03 34:20

Mate, there's there's some times in these podcasts where I throw out a real tough question and I'm unsure whether to ask it, but I'm gonna be unsure. And it might be a tough one and take a breath in if you could write a letter to your daughter today or would you say it's too tough.

SPEAKER_01 35:02

I said uh I said I'd do it and I'm doing it.

SPEAKER_02 35:05

That is very tough. Um, like love dog and choose nine. I see You already have a people then you look oh I wonder what my daughter would look like. You know So in rhetorical questions like that, like you sort of told you she's an uh an adult or can I say she'd be eight and a nine?

SPEAKER_03 35:30

No, it should be twenty-six twenty-six now. You know what you oh it should be should be incredibly incredibly proud of you, Matt.

SPEAKER_02 35:40

Yeah, but you scored that that winning goal, you've got Yeah halfway there.

SPEAKER_03 35:45

And uh the question I ask everyone on this show, and I know it's coming. Ren Peterson, who's your hero?

SPEAKER_02 35:56

Um those everything, mutilated heroes too, mate, you know. Yeah, that's that's what makes Australia a beautiful place.

SPEAKER_03 36:04

The nurse is the underdog, the nurse, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 36:08

That's my that's my number plot.

SPEAKER_01 36:10

Underdog, isn't it?

SPEAKER_03 36:12

Well, that's um Oh, let me get this mate. I'll just wind this up now. Uh Ren, mate, thank you for sharing such a powerful story, and thank you for trusting me to to tell it to, and the the reason we're doing it is to help as many people as possible to stay another day and and work through those moments that might get you down. What you've done proves that even in life's darkest moments, something meaningful can rise from pain. Through Ren's Million Dollar Mission, your daughter's legacy is now helping families and children all over the world. So, everyone listening today, take a moment to thank someone who changed your life. Because heroes aren't always famous. Sometimes they're just people who refuse to give up. Ren Peterson, thanks for coming on the show. Thank you, Must. I you matter more than people can appreciate the says. And that legend brings us to the end of this three-part journey with Ren Peterson. What a story, what a series, and what a man. And over these three episodes, we've gone a long way together and formed mutual respect and a great bond with each other. We've walked through the heartbreak, we've walked through group, we've walked through fatherhood, purpose, makes rebuilding, memory, missions, and meaning. And now standing at the end of it, I think the biggest thing this stereotype leaves us with is this. And that's why what Ren is doing is so important. He's not just fundraising money, he's raising time, he's raising hope, he's raising awareness. He's raising the possibility that one day a family sitting in a hospital room hearing the words D I P G might also hear something no one could say years ago. There's a treatment for that, there is a chance, there is hope. And if that day comes, and by the sound of it, we're closer than ever. That will be one of the great underdog wins. That will be bigger than the fundraiser, bigger than the headline, bigger than Townsil, bigger than one person. That will be a moon landing moment for these families, and Ren has helped drag that future closer. So, mate, from me to you. Thank you. Thank you for your honesty, your courage, your humour. Thank you for your rough edges and your vulnerabilities. Thank you for trusting me with this story. Thank you for doing the hard yards for families who need someone in their corner. This is what a real mission looks like. Now, legends, this is where you come in. If this trilogy has moved you, if Amy's legacy has touched you, the friend's fight means something to you. If you believe kids and families facing DIPG deserve more than shrugging shoulders in silence, then please do something about it. Please support Redden's million dollar mission. Red is currently chasing members for his thousand clubs. Simply asking a thousand people to donate $1,000 to help drive this mission forward. You can donate here www.ccia.org.au forward slash events. Ren's million dollar mission forward slash home. If you're in a position to give, if you're in business, get behind it. If you can't donate a thousand, share the link. If you can't share the link, talk about the mission. If you can do both, even better, because every bit of momentum matters. And if enough people decide they care, real things can happen. That's how this grows. That's how treatment gets closer. And that's how lives get changed. That's how Amy's legacy keeps moving. And on behalf of these embattled DIPG families, I just want to echo it clearly. Thank you to everyone listening and thank you to everyone sharing. Thank you for everyone donating. Thank you for everyone showing up for families they may have never met. This is community, this is makeshift, this is humanity at its best. And if there's one last thing this series asks of you, it's this. Don't wait. Don't wait to say thank you. Don't wait to say I love you. Don't wait to ask for help. Don't wait to back a good cause. Don't wait for the bloody eulogy. Tell your people now, support the mission. Live now. This has been episode 52, Ren Peterson Part 3, the final chapter in this remarkable 3 part series. I'm Buzz. This is Who is Your Hero? Take a moment for Amy. Back Ren's million dollar mission. Join the 1000 club if you can. And keep showing up for the people who need a hand giving their owe back in the water. God bless Legends, this is Buzz. Over and out. And Hero