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Beating the odds: Old Boy Rowan Tong-Law ‘23 returns to BGS for World’s Greatest Shave to share about life with leukaemia  

As a student, Rowan Tong-Law was a tenacious and talented prefect. With broad interests and a supportive spirit, he was known as a leader and confidant to many.  

His first year of life out of school was packed with adventure, balancing university study with playing numerous sports, a colourful social life, and giving back to the BGS community as a part-time tutor. 

However, in September 2024, just shy of one year into his Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours), Rowan’s trajectory was unexpectedly halted by a life-changing diagnosis: Acute Myeloid Leukaemia - a rare form of cancer affecting blood and bone marrow which tends to develop rapidly.  

Since diagnosis, Rowan and his family have been confronted by months of intensive chemotherapy sessions and hospitalisations. They have faced numerous complications such as a heart valve infection and have had to put life on hold without certainty.  

“Uncertainty with treatment is one of the hardest things about my journey. Sometimes it feels like I'm in a room with a tiger. You know it's dangerous and it can kill, but there's nothing you can do so all you do is pray and hope it doesn't notice you standing there,” Rowan said.  

On his visit back to BGS recently, he says his biggest learning curve yet has been developing a new perspective on what’s important. “The little daily worries of your uni exam next week or the traffic making you late become insignificant.”  

Rowan’s father Robert feels indebted to the support of the BGS community, especially at this notoriously heartbreaking juncture, saying “Throughout this ordeal, Rowan's friends have been his pillars of support.” 

While the initial round of chemotherapy was grueling, things began looking up. Promising results and community support eventually reignited Rowan’s determination and he was soon able to make up for the six months of life he’d missed, spending the summer of 2024-25 catching up on his studies while undergoing a strict maintenance regimen.  

Time with family and friends started to gradually return, along with some social sports, and his tenacity even secured him an exciting new job with UQ Rugby.  

Heading toward what they’d hoped would be normalcy, Rowan optimistically completed the final tests at the end of his chemotherapy treatment only to be advised that the chemotherapy was not as effective as they’d hoped. Rowan now requires an urgent stem cell transplant. 

Robert says, “The search to find a matching donor is conducted worldwide. Rowan’s brother and sister are both 50% matches, but a full match is required for optimal success.”  

Rowan returned to BGS late last week to share his story and advocate for the World’s Greatest Shave - an initiative that raises money for the Leukaemia Foundation.  

He also outlined the important and simple process of registering to be a stem cell donor:  

1. People between 18 and 35 years are encouraged to register. 

2. A cheek swab can establish genetic compatibility, and if you are a match, the process works similarly to donating blood. You can do this at home or at your next blood donation. 

Rowan and his family wish to pass on extensive thanks to the BGS community—students, past and present staff, Old Boys and the BGSOBA—for their support of his journey so far. 

“The support, especially from the Grammar community, has been unreal and I did not expect it all. Seeing the support network around me has shown me the inherent good in human beings.”  

Please consider learning more about Rowan’s story and registering as a stem cell donor today. 

“It could save someone’s life.”