Matty 'J' Johnson reveals the hospital scare that made him sign up for his new role: 'It absolutely breaks your heart'

Matty 'J' Johnson has revealed his daughter Marlie-Mae's recent hospital scare made him jump at the chance to raise money for the children's charity Camp Quality through his new partnership with ALDI.

Speaking exclusively to 9Honey, the TV star turned podcast host said his eldest daughter, four, recently had to go to hospital for some tests and thankfully was OK.

But Johnson, who is the new 'Chief Packing Officer' for ALDI, said the experience was 'heartbreaking' as he saw lots of sick kids in the hospital ward.

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"A few weeks ago, Marlie had a little scare and wasn't too well and had to go to hospital, we went to the Children's Hospital in Sydney and we were there getting some tests done," he explains.

"And while there, we had to go through the cancer ward for the kids and you can't help but take a glance to your left and right, and looking at these little kids, they're four and five. They should be out playing in the park and they're stuck in a bed.

"So being given an opportunity to raise money, is a chance I jumped at. Thankfully Marlie is okay but it's one of those things where the hospital is out of sight and out of mind; it's only when you're in a situation where you're confronted with sick kids that you realise how lucky you are where you're not battling a life-threatening illness."

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Johnson is a proud dad to daughter Marlie-Mae, four, and Lola, two, who he shares with wife Laura Byrne.

"I think Camp Quality is such an amazing organisation and I am so fortunate my two daughters are happy and healthy," he says.

"It absolutely breaks your heart seeing young kids going through an ordeal and battling cancer."

Talking about his approach to parenting, Johnson said he is both a 'serious' dad and a 'fun' dad.

"I had to go to book week and read to the kids and it was a task I took quite seriously. I wanted the other kids to know that Marlie and Lola's dad is really cool and fun," he says.

He added that he loves being a 'girl dad'.

"I'm a bit of a softie and sensitive, I always thought I wanted to have a boy. The other day I was playing with my nephew and he gave me an uppercut to the chin and then I went sprinting back to my girls," he says with a laugh.

"The most grief they give me is little tantrums, they're not as physical as boys."

He said that he and wife Byrne, who married in Mollymook in an intimate ceremony in November, often 'debate' if they'll add another child to their brood.

"The answer depends on how the kids are behaving on that day, today if you ask me [at the time of the interview], we have multiple tantrums. If you ask me right now if I want a third, I'm leaning towards no," he says with a laugh.

"But as soon as I have that thought process, I can't believe I'm done. I don't know, I feel like I still have enough energy in the tank down the line to one day have a third, and Laura is gunning for a third. Not now, next year, but the year after that."

Johnson is ALDI's new chief packing officer for a special fundraising event for Camp Quality.

He will be helping customers pack their grocery bags at the register at ALDI Brookvale on September 16 for a $2 donation, that goes directly to sick kids.

"This is very, very exciting. I have been given a title and it may be the first time ever anyone has had the official title as chief packing officer of ALDI. For me, it's an Australian first and one I've been training for for a very long time!'' he said.

"Now I'm battling the nerves to deliver the services I'm promising. Speed is a big one, your reaction time is top shelf, stamina is very important for these types of shifts. It's a marathon, not a sprint, it's very particular how people want their bags packed, it's a very stressful job I'm taking on," he jokes.

He added with a laugh about wearing short shorts in the promotional pictures: "I took these photos at ALDI recently and I don't know if the customers were excited or concerned.

"Laura is trying to talk me out of the short shorts. She was like, 'you can wear them for the promo shot but please, for the love of god, don't make people look at your upper legs.'"

ALDI shoppers across the country can support this cause by donating in store or buying Camp Quality items from the iconic Special Buys middle aisle.

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Title: Matty 'J' Johnson reveals the hospital scare that made him sign up for his new role: 'It absolutely breaks your heart'
Sourced From: celebrity.nine.com.au/latest/matty-j-johnson-reveals-heartbreaking-hospital-scare-made-him-sign-up-for-new-role/5e6d302f-9904-4d6d-9d75-78bd34ae0a8b
Published Date: Mon, 11 Sep 2023 04:09:00 GMT