Amazing ambassadors
The Amazing Race Australia winners put their best foot forward for people affected by cancer
The Amazing Race Australia 2022 winners Toni Hilland and Heath Curry put their best foot forward for people affected by cancer when they signed up as Ambassadors for Walking Stars.
Toni, who is living with terminal/secondary breast cancer and her husband, Heath, along with their family and friends took part in Walking Stars, walking 21 kilometres through Melbourne in the city’s only night-time walking half-marathon. Their team raised $22,947.
“We did lots of walking on The Amazing Race, which included walking a donkey up a very steep hill! We’re an active couple,” Heath said.
Since doing the show, Toni and Heath have received inspiring messages of support from other people affected by cancer.
“We’ve received a lot of messages from people who have been diagnosed with cancer.
They’ve been like: ‘You’ve made us stop feeling sorry for ourselves. If you can go out there and race around the world – and win – we can go for a walk every day,’” said Toni who lives by the motto: ‘Carpe Diem’ or ‘Seize the Day.’
“I try and follow Toni’s motto. She has shown me a lot since we’ve been together – how to grasp life and to go out there and live it,” Heath added.
You can go out there and race around the world – and win – we can go for a walk every day
“Together we are stronger”
Behind Kristy’s Special Girls’ Night In
Since 2009, Kristy has been supporting Cancer Council Victoria, raising over $137,000 to support cancers for women, trans and gender diverse people.
“I first started fundraising for this cause after watching a beautiful friend living with a terminal cancer diagnosis and feeling helpless about the situation. Fundraising for Cancer Council Victoria makes me feel less helpless,” Kristy says.
Since 2012, Kristy has held a much-loved garden high tea event. When COVID impacted the event Kristy adapted, hosting a virtual high tea in the COVID-impacted years of 2020 and 2021. In 2022, Kristy’s garden high tea was back in full swing, with 65 guests selling out tickets in 30 hours and raising an incredible $18,000.
“I am a firm believer that fundraising isn’t the effort of one person, it is a picture that is made up of lots of puzzle pieces and lots of people who are all playing an important role, big or small, to achieve great things,” she says. “Together we are stronger and can achieve positive results that genuinely make a difference in the lives of many people for generations to come.”
Get involved in Girls Night In visit: www.girlsnightin.cancervic.org.au
Australian Open Golf
In December, Cancer Council Victoria headed to the HANSA Australian Open Golf Championships as the official charity partner.
Visitors were able to apply sunscreen provided and purchase sun protection from the Cancer Council stall helping event attendees to Slip, Slop, Slap, Sleek and Slide and be SunSmart.
The Longest Day
Keeping with the golf theme, we saw many people get involved in The Longest Day, an event where individuals and teams test their skill, strength and stamina in the ultimate golf challenge. The challenge sees keen golfers tee off at dawn and finish at dusk completing four rounds of golf to raise money for Cancer Council’s research, prevention and support services.
This year, North Melbourne player Ben Cunnington signed on as an ambassador for the event.
“I’m taking part because I want everyone to listen to their body if something doesn’t feel right,” said Ben who is in remission from testicular cancer. “I want to encourage everyone that suspects something is not quite right with their body or health to be brave and speak to a health professional.”
Get involved in The Longest Day visit: www.longestday.org.au
Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea
Peter Farmer’s brushstroke for cancer awareness among First Nations people
To shine a light on the impacts of cancer on First Nations Victorians, world-renowned contemporary Indigenous artist and proud Noongar man, Peter Farmer, teamed up with Cancer Council Victoria for Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea in May.
Peter transformed a giant teacup into a beautiful work of art to highlight the many challenges faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
“The artwork is about journeys, the lines or Biddis are roads or paths that represent journeys to good health and healing,” Mr Farmer said.
“The road is a little longer and more filled with challenges, especially for First Australians. The colours painted on the cup help create a sense of calming to help anyone going through a cancer journey.”
With First Nations Victorians twice as likely to be diagnosed with cancer and three times more likely to die from cancer than other Victorians, Mr Farmer said everyone should join the fight against cancer.
“We as Australians have a role, whether it’s just a small donation or continuing in important medical research.”
Host your own Biggest Morning Tea visit: www.bigestmorningtea.com.au