Giants Netball Star Matisse Letherbarrow Steps Up for Kids with Cancer
June 2, 2026
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Matisse Shooting for Something Bigger
From the Hills District to the National Stage: GIANTS Super Netball League goal shooter Matisse Leatherbarrow teams up with Kids with Cancer Foundation to shine a light on the more than 1,000 children diagnosed with cancer every year.
Matisse Letherbarrow, one of Australia’s most exciting young netball talents, has joined forces with Kids with Cancer Foundation – beginning her ambassadorship by meeting a child undergoing cancer treatment at a recent game and spending time at the packing table, filling Care Packs delivered to children’s hospitals around Australia and hand-writing cards of support for the kids who receive them.
For Matisse, GIANTS Netball Goal Shooter and Kids with Cancer Foundation Ambassador, this work is deeply important. Matisse said: “Netball has given me so much and placed me in a position of privilege that I never take for granted. Along the way, I’ve been lucky enough to meet some truly incredible people, but most importantly, the sport has opened the door for me to become involved in charity work — something that quickly became one of my biggest passions. I’ve had amazing influences in my life like Amy Parmenter and Molly Croft through the Tie Dye Project, and watching the impact they make on so many lives has shown me how much we can give beyond the court. Their compassion and dedication to helping others is something I deeply admire.”
“Meeting kids who have already been through so much is genuinely one of the most inspiring experiences. It instantly puts life into perspective for me, and if I can play even the smallest role in making them smile, helping them forget what they’re going through for a little while, or simply making them feel special and happy, then that means everything to me. This kind of work fills my heart in a way nothing else can, and I’m so excited to see what we can achieve together here at Kids with Cancer Foundation.”
Kids with Cancer Foundation supports families facing a child’s cancer diagnosis through five programs including Family Financial Assistance, Care Packs 4 Kids, Wigs4Kids, Funding of Hospital Infrastructure and Clinician Positions, as well as vital Research.
Matisse is working with Kids with Cancer Foundation to bring the colour, energy and joy of elite netball directly to the kids and families it supports: meeting children in treatment courtside, hosting netball-themed respite days, and opening the doors of Suncorp Super Netball to families who deserve a day filled with something other than worry. Away from the court, she’ll be lending her voice and time to raise awareness and funds, kicking off her first fundraising initiative during the netball off-season, by leading a team in this year’s City2Surf.
CEO of Kids with Cancer Foundation, Todd Prees, said: “We are so proud to welcome Matisse into the Kids with Cancer Foundation family. She brings extraordinary energy, genuine heart, and a platform that can reach right into the communities where kids and families are navigating a childhood cancer. Every time Matisse steps onto the court, she carries the hopes of some very brave young people with her and that means everything to us and most importantly to the kids and families.”
Home-Grown Heart: A Hills District Kid Backing a Hills District Born Charity
Matisse Letherbarrow grew up in the Hills District of Sydney, learning to play at Baulkham Hills Netball Club, where she first discovered what it felt like to compete, to belong, and to believe in something bigger than herself. Kids with Cancer Foundation, founded in 1998, shares those same roots — a charity born in the same community, that has spread its wings to support children and families all across Australia, just as she has.
Every week, Matisse steps onto the court in front of tens of thousands of fans and the audience that follows her off it is just as devoted. She wants to use that connection to shine a light on the more than 1,000 kids diagnosed with cancer in Australia every year, and on the vital work Kids with Cancer Foundation does to support them and their families.
Now in her fifth season in the world’s best netball competition, the 24-year-old goal shooter has become one of the most exciting attacking players in the league. But for all her success on court, what defines Matisse as much as her talent is her insistence that the opportunity she has been given must stand for something.
Matisse said: “I’m passionate about constantly growing both on and off the court, pushing myself to be the best athlete, teammate and person I can be. Outside of sport, I have a strong passion for charity work and giving back to the community wherever possible, because creating a positive impact beyond the game is something really important to me. Kids with Cancer Foundation is locally grown, deeply trusted, and doing extraordinary work. I want to use every match, every post, every conversation to help more people learn about Kids with Cancer Foundation and the incredible support they provide to kids with cancer and their families.”
Welcome to the Kids with Cancer Foundation family, Matisse!