STACEY PORTER
Aussie Spirit Captain and 3 time Olympian (2004, 2008 and 2020 (21))
I’m absolutely honoured to be asked to be a part of this beautiful Foundation whose main aim is to raise funds for cancer research.
Its a disease that effects so many & I recently discovered the amount of cancer cases has tripled since the early 1980’s, but survival rates are on the rise. So there can never be a more urgent time to join forces to slow down and eventually stop this disease in its track. It’s run by passionate and caring people & I can’t wait to be involved in any way I can.
KELLY MCKELLAR-NATHAN
Former Australian Softball representative. 1st Indigenous athlete to represent Australia at a world championships (Silver medal)
Cancer first touched my life at the age of 32 years when my best friend’s younger sister was diagnosed with cancer. Like many other stories, Tone (as she was lovingly known) was concerned about a lump she found on her tongue, and after several weeks of tests, her diagnosis was confirmed. What really was unbelievable about this cancer was the statistics – it was more commonly diagnosed in men over the age of 65 years and who are / was smokers. Tone was a young woman who just celebrated her 30th birthday and never touched a cigarette in her short years. I miss her dearly and although I had a long and established loving, trusting and caring friendship with her older sister Loren, Tone and I spent many good times together that brought us closer before her illness. Both Loren and Toni are not only my friends, they are my sisters. Three years later, I lost my cousin Jacqueline Monaghan to cancer – another deep and devastating loss to my family and me. Sadly, there have been many more family and friends effected by and lost to cancer. When I was approached by Play for a Cure to be an Ambassador, I first asked ‘why me?’. Later that evening I said to myself, it’s not about what qualities I can bring to this charity but more so what I can do for Play for a Cure. From that point on, I’ve been dedicated to assisting the charity in fundraising, volunteering my time and will be participating in the Queensland Masters in August 2010 (and in future events) – my legacy of contributing in the fight against cancer as well as remembering family and friends.
MELANIE ROCHE
Australian Softball Legend. 4 time Olympian (4 time medallist (one of only 3 women to do this in Australian sporting history)), 4 world championships
I lost my beautiful mother, Judy Flynn (56 years), quite quickly (3 months) to Bowel Cancer in 2003. So many of our friends and family are affected by this disease. Personally, I believe the cure is not a medical solution, but a human one. If we all take care of each other, we give more (stress less), we love more (fight less), we eat foods that taste fresh and healthy and we spend more time out in the open and interacting happily with each other rather than inside behind computers, mobile phones and TV screens… we can prevent this disease. It’s just my feeling but it’s the reason why I’m backing ‘Play For A Cure’. Leigh Martyn and her board, are promoting an active lifestyle, human awareness and appealing for generosity. These are the ingredients that may contribute to cancer prevention. I apologize if my views are inconsistent with current cancer-fighting strategies. Keep up your amazing work Marty and Play for a Cure. I am backing Play for a Cure 100%.