Lauren Witchard

THREE DAYS!

Another friend; another request to help me help them. 

After my last post, I was contacted by another friend to thank me for my involvement in the swim, and to tell me she was in the midst of her own cancer journey. Annabel’s husband, Rory, was diagnosed several years ago and while the prognosis seemed dire and that season was terrifying, he is by some miracle now in remission. However, Annabel is now battling breast cancer - thankfully caught early enough for prognosis to be good considering, but, as anyone who has undergone chemo or radiation therapy knows, the treatment takes a huge toll physically and emotionally, and fighting the dreaded C word is a whole family affair. Her diagnosis is not ‘social media official’ so I will not tag her, but share this with her permission. 

I long for a cancer-free world, but the next best thing would be treatment options that don’t destroy ALL the cells, good and bad, and leave the individual feeling so sick, powerless and dependent. Given 1 in 2 Australians will be diagnosed with cancer, this fight seems so necessary. 

I’m now swimming for Annabel and Rory too - a Supercouple with enormous hearts from whom I wish I could remove this unfair and shitty shared cancer experience. PLEASE, help me out by sponsoring me. Any amount makes a difference!

I’ve taken my time posting this because I wanted to find the right words, but there are no right words. An acquaintance of mine, someone with a beautiful heart, a beautiful family, who I have known for years, faces an incredibly tough year fighting cancer. Adam started this year hoping that last year’s treatment had made a difference but instead discovered his cancer had spread. The next treatment options include the collection and manufacturing of Adam’s T-cells into cancer-fighting cells in the US; the harvesting stage has been successfully completed and now he begins a bridging chemo treatment to maximize the success of the CAR T-cell treatment through Peter McCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne. The fact these treatments exist is thanks to research; the process involved in this treatment is absolutely amazing and provides hope where once there would have been none. However, of course there is no guarantee of success. Hence the request for prayers and all positive things. Adam, his partner Melissa, his boys Josh and Nate and all Adam’s family and friends would greatly appreciate you all holding them in your prayers and thoughts during this scary, heartbreaking, painful time. 

I wish I could do more to help them, but I have asked if I can at least swim for Adam next Sunday. They would love for me to do so. So please know that when I jump in the water, Adam and his family will be in my thoughts. The fundraising I do is in the hopes of directing funds towards research such as that which led to the discovery of treatment options such as Adam’s, and to provide supports for individuals and their communities on cancer journeys like Adam’s. 

Please, if you have the capacity right now, sponsor me and help me make a difference. And Adam - you got this, dude. I’ll make a fool of myself in your honour. ❤️

This year, I’m still riding on that high, but even more motivated by several new stories of people I love, and people who love them, and their battles with cancer. In particular, one of my closest friends has just been diagnosed with follicular lymphoma, a cancer in the Non-Hodgkin family, and has a journey full of unknowns ahead of her. I love this woman to bits, and if swimming dressed up as Marilyn might raise money that goes into researching this cancer, its treatment, and supporting her and others, I couldn’t get into the water faster. 

Of course, I’m also swimming for both my grandfathers, who I never knew because of cancer, and my mother, who has fought it and won three times, as well as other beloved family members, including my amazing second cousin Michael and his beautiful wife Margaret, who both passed within a year of each other due to different cancers. 

PLEASE - I know times are tough, but whatever you can spare to support me in supporting this cause would be so appreciated. 

Yes, I’m doing it again. What sucks is that I have not just one but a list of new people/reasons I’m doing this again in January 2025. And a bunch of stories of people who have been supported by Cancer Council through Counselling, research, information, accommodation… This all really just emphasizes how important this is. Please dig deep, give generously, and know that every dollar makes a huge difference in our battle against this awful disease and our support of those fighting it.