From deep loss to deep impact

"Bob was the love of my life. Everyone used to say we were the perfect marriage." - Kim.

In just four months, Kim’s husband Bob was gone. Diagnosed with an extremely rare cancer, they spent their last anniversary and last Christmas together, unable to get the medical answers and support they needed to come to terms with the shock.

“Both our daughters struggled with the shortness of time and then there were no answers after he died,” shared Kim who described her grief as being in ‘a state of nothingness’.

Dealing with the loss of a loved one was one thing, dealing with it in a cloud of uncertainty added another layer of pain. It was this feeling of helplessness and the need for more research and support services that inevitably inspired Kim to leave a portion of her Will to Cancer Council Victoria.

“I was determined I was going to give money to fund research in rare cancers. [I know] Bob’s will probably never be researched because there's not enough data, but there are other rare cancers that are now bordering on finding ways and means,” she shared.

Kim’s experience shows how vital answers are – not just in finding ways to treat rare cancers, but also in giving those affected much-needed information and support during such a difficult time.

“That’s why it’s so important my money goes towards rare cancers. I can imagine a future where there will more readily be answers to the previously unanswered,” said Kim.

So much of the research we fund comes from the generosity of people like Kim who have left a gift in their Will.