In June this year, Sue celebrated her 70th birthday with friends and family at the Port Noarlunga Bowling Club.
To mark the day, Sue decided to once again host an Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea event to raise vital funds for cancer research and support. In lieu of gifts, she asked her guests instead donate to Cancer Council SA.
She says after getting diagnosed and finding out her cancer had spread to her lymph nodes, she never expected to make it to 60. But with research trials into new treatments helping her along the way, Sue wants to personally build more grassroots support for cancer research.
“I’m very grateful for people that do these trials, because they’ve got to go five years before these drugs even go out to people,” she says.
“I will always raise money for Cancer Council SA because I think that is vital for the research, for the cancer nurses, for everything they do.
Sue (centre) coordinates her team in the kitchen during her Australia's Biggest Morning Tea.
“I think the only way we’re going to get cures for different cancers is by having brilliant people and the money to support their research.”
Since she started hosting Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea events and fundraising for Cancer Council SA around 10 years ago, Sue has raised more than $115,000 for people impacted by cancer.
She says she wants to make every day count and do her best to support others facing a cancer diagnosis and treatment.
I’ve always had this motto, even before I had cancer, and I’ve got it written on a plaque. It says, ‘Don’t count the days, make the days count’.
“Every day, I do something. I just think my time is very limited. Even though I’m positive and I’m hopeful, I’m also a realist and I know at the moment there is no cure for my cancer.
“We’ve always felt you should do things when you can because you might not be around. Now, it’s more true than ever.”
With all the effort she puts into supporting others facing cancer, Sue says the most touching part of it isn’t necessarily the amount of money her events raise, but more the impact they have on people around her.
“I get people coming up to me in the shops and they start telling me their stories,” Sue says.
“When you’re out and about, you learn that people do look up to you and take comfort if they’ve got cancer to know you’re still going.
“This past year, I’ve lost quite a few friends and their families really look to me now for support. They’ve become friends and they want to do things for me now to help raise money. They’re helping through me and they’re doing their bit for cancer—in more ways than when I first started doing this.”
Never one to rest on her laurels, Sue is already planning what she can do next to support others in her community.
Across South Australia this year, 1,644 hosts have brought people together for an Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea, raising more than $1.3 million for vital cancer prevention programs, research and support services.
