In Honour of “Addy” Chris Tse, Chair and Founding Trustee Brain Tumour Support New Zealand
Eleven-year-old entrepreneur launches business in honour of her late grandmother, who passed away from brain cancer
T
yla-Jaz, or TJ to her family and friends, was just nine years old when she lost her beloved grandmother “Addy” to brain cancer in 2020. As TJ describes, Addy was also her best friend: “We used to do lots of fun things together, like going to the mall, going on walks, playing games, and cooking together.” “But one day we were at her house, and she was kind of sick because of the brain cancer so she had to go to hospital. When she went in the ambulance, I was so upset I was crying, and I couldn't stop. When we went to go see her, she didn't know she had brain cancer and neither did we, but then one day she got told the news that she was diagnosed with brain cancer.” Like so many people who have faced a brain cancer diagnosis, Addy fought her illness bravely before sadly passing away in 2020. In March 2021, TJ came up with the idea to launch her own business selling Fidget products. Fidget products are designed to help with stress, anxiety and enhancing children's motor skills. A little over a month later, her business “TJ and Co” was launched. And in honour of Addy, TJ decided to donate a portion of all sales to Brain Tumour Support NZ. TJ and Addy were very close, according to TJ’s mum, Paige who said: “TJ watched, experienced and lived through day one with my Mum all the way to the end of her journey, which lasted three years. All TJ wants to do is help other families in need and if she can donate towards making Brain Boxes for people at the end of the day that is what pushes her through her small business.” A Brain Box is a care package from Brain Tumour Support NZ containing 122
Brain Tumour
TJ and her grandmother “Addy”
information guides and gifts for patients and carers. They are sent free to people anywhere in New Zealand who have been diagnosed with a brain tumour. Now at the ripe old age of eleven, TJ works hard on her business, announcing the launch of new products, promotions and “bundle deals” on her website, and through
Facebook and Instagram. With the support of her loving whãnau (the Mãori word for “extended family”) and a growing customer base, TJ is determined to make a difference to families who are impacted by brain cancer. Chris Tse, chair of Brain Tumour Support NZ, said: “We have never met someone quite like TJ. To face grief and loss at such
