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We have contact with people either via the Helpline or via support groups, via education
and training programs, by the internet or people getting involved in chat groups. The
Cancer Council income is generated through the charity dollar and that means we solely
rely on fundraising events like Relay for Life, which last year raised an incredible
$14 million to help us provide the type of services that the Cancer Information and Support
Services does.
Without people's incredible energy, and their generosity and their donations, we couldn't
do what we set out to do every day.
People doing laps, late at night or early in the morning - we have a mantra in CISS
that every dollar that you make, makes things possible for us, so we really thank the fundraisers
and we really thank the Relay for Lifers who are out there all night, raising funds for
what we truly believe is important.
One Bundoora grandmother who also believes in the work of the Cancer Council is 57 year
old Jill Cathcart who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer at 27. She says Relay has brought her
closure and encouraged her to speak out about a generation that has suffered in silence.
We were brought up that whatever happens in the home stays in the home. When I was diagnosed
with cancer it was such a whirlwind thing. I was in hospital and I rang my husband up
and said "Come into the hospital, I'm dying." And they rang the specialist and he came in,
and my husband said, "Why is she is sick?" and he said, "That's the chemo she's having".
And that is the only way I knew I was having chemo. And if I'd had some support or somebody
to explain to me what was happening to me, I would have dealt with things a lot better.
I thought I'd dealt with it, but I realised I hadn't dealt with it properly until I did
Relay.
The services that are available to people today - you can talk to people - there's somebody
there. You don't have to suffer in silence like I did.