What To Get Dad: DONATE A GIFT TO CANCER RESEARCH ON FATHER’S DAY Posted on August 25, 2016September 5, 2018 by Carly du Toit With Father’s Day just around the corner, we all will be thinking about what to get Dad and how to show Dad that we care. Rather than filling his cupboard with more unwanted gifts like socks, jocks and ‘World’s Greatest Dad’ mugs, why not donate in his name to cancer research? Why Donate a Gift to Cancer Research on Father’s Day? September is the month where we raise awareness for the most common cancers affecting Australian men. 1 in 5 men will develop prostate cancer before the age of 85, and the five year survival rate for bowel cancer in men is 66.2 percent. This means now, more than ever, we need to support researchers who are working to outsmart cancers affecting men. It’s also the month where we celebrate one of the most important men in our lives on Father’s Day. If you’re stuck for what to buy for Dad, donations to charity are a meaningful gift, particularly if someone he knows has been affected by cancer. When you make a donation to cancer research in place of a gift you’ll be helping speed up cancer research discoveries and bring new hope for the future. What better way to make Dad feel really special this Father’s Day than for him to know that you’ve donated in his honour to fund world-class research into ending cancer! What can you do with Dad to Fundraise for Men’s Cancer Month? One of the best gifts you can give to Dad is your time. Organising a fundraiser with Dad can be a great Father’s Day bonding activity. If you and Dad would like to fundraise for Men’s Cancer Month, but aren’t quite sure how to get started, then we’ve got some ideas for you to make a difference: Dinner Party: Organise a dinner party where all the Dad’s in the family give up Father’s Day privileges and prepare dinner for the guests. Attendees need to make a minimum donation set by the hosts. Garage Sale: Make room for new Father’s Day gifts by selling unwanted items to the community and donating the profits to cancer research. Golf Tournament: Is Dad or Grandpa skilled on the green? Organise a golf tournament and ask participants for a small donation. Quiz Night: If Dad isn’t so savvy with a golf club, perhaps a trivia card is more his forte. Host a trivia night and ask for a small donation from each team of players. Walk to Outsmart Cancer: If you would prefer one on one time with Dad, trek to an exciting destination this Father’s Day. Never doubt the impact even a small donation can have. You can help researchers make new ground on their projects, and improve the technology which detects, diagnoses and treats all types of cancer. Support Cancer Research at your Father’s Day Lunch If you and your family are throwing a party or holding a lunch for Dad this Father’s Day, why not turn the affair into a fundraising activity the whole family can participate in. It’ll make the day a fun and memorable experience for all involved. Honour Dad, Grandpa and other men in the family with these easy to execute fundraising ideas: Swear Jar: Is there a relative or two who are a little loose on the lips? For larger gatherings, use a swear jar to raise money for cancer research, and give Dad’s ears a break (assuming he’s not the culprit!). Headshave: Symbolically remove your hair and encourage others in the family to do the same. This gesture makes a statement of love for someone you or Dad knows who’s been affected by cancer. BBQ and Raffle: Make the event itself a charity fundraiser! Extend the invitation to your friends and neighbours and hold a raffle in support of cancer research. Whether your donation is in lieu of a gift, or you choose to host a fundraising event, Dad will appreciate the meaningful gesture this Father’s Day. DONATE NOW GET INVOLVED
How will you celebrate this Mother’s Day? Posted on April 29, 2016February 25, 2018 by Carly du Toit Mother’s Day is fast approaching, and many of us are starting to think about meaningful Mother’s Day gifts. Wouldn’t a world without cancer be the greatest gift of all this Mother’s Day? These three gift ideas will make mum smile and fund research to end cancer. Donate in lieu of a gift Many ACRF supporters choose to make an in-celebration donation in lieu of traditional gifts. A Mother’s Day donation is a thoughtful gift idea that will help fund world-class cancer research. And as thanks, we’ll send your mum a lovely card to acknowledge your generous contribution. Click here to make a donation. Purchase an Entertainment book for her Get her an Entertainment Book! It’s full of deals on things you could do together. From each book purchased, 20% percent of the sale will go directly to cancer research. Click here to order. Order a Mother’s Day hamper Treat your mum to a gorgeous charity hamper filled with luxury products. 10% of proceeds will help scientists advance research into cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment. View the hampers here. Your support will bring new hope to cancer patients and their families around the world. Families like Gemma’s. “For a couple of years now, my mum has been fighting cancer with unfathomable strength and courage. While our family has had both good and bad days, Mum is a true warrior and has kept us positive and moving forward, as we stand by her side. She has spent her entire life putting everyone else before herself, and even now, she wishes for nothing more than everyone else’s happiness. This illness has turned all our lives upside down, and this happens every day to families all over the world. We are determined to help end cancer, and we cannot do this without research.” We are very grateful to have supporters who choose to mark special occasions such as Mother’s Day by contributing to the fight against cancer. Read more on Gemma’s story here.
I’m still standing Posted on April 28, 2016March 19, 2018 by Carly du Toit “Ian and I will have been married for 46 years next month. We have spent very little time apart in those years. We have three adult children and four grandchildren. We both grew up in the country but spent some time in Brisbane before settling in the rural town of D’Aguilar, Queensland. On Valentine’s Day in 2004, a year after we moved, I found a lump and was diagnosed with breast cancer. I had to undergo a major operation and travel to the city for daily radium treatments. Not only did cancer have a physical impact on my body, but it also affected me emotionally and financially. For a number of years after, I suffered panic attacks and became a recluse which made it incredibly difficult to work. Six years after my first diagnosis the breast cancer was back. Thankfully we managed to get through it all together. We never used to celebrate Valentine’s Day, but we do now because I am all clear and have been for six years now. However, our fight against this disease wasn’t over. A week before Christmas in 2014, Ian went to see the doctor in severe pain and he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. The doctors told him that unfortunately there was nothing they could do for him and that he should go home and get his affairs in order and enjoy what time he had left. After we had got all of our affairs in order, our son suggested we have a “wake” as Ian was always saying how unfair it was that you’re not there to party with your friends and family when you die. So we had a pre-departure wake last year. It was just what we both needed – over 120 people came and it was a fantastic day. During the day of celebrations, Ian told everyone to save the date for an ‘I’m Still Standing’ celebration in 2016 as he would still be here. And he was right. Because Ian was keeping well, his doctors did an endless amount of scans, blood tests, and biopsies and discovered that he had a Neuroendocrine Tumour. This is a slow-growing form of pancreatic cancer, but it is still terminal. It has been an endless roller coaster ride of emotions, with a lot of twists and turns, but we are grateful for this extra time to enjoy together. Cancer is an insidious disease that affects so many people. In the past five years, we’ve lost two brothers-in-law, I very recently lost my brother, and now I’m losing a good friend, and my husband – all to terminal cancer. I nearly lost Ian at Christmas this year, but the fantastic staff at the Redcliffe Oncology performed a miracle and like Ian had promised, he is still here. My darling Ian is such a fighter, so I have decided to make his “I’m Still Standing” celebration day into a fundraiser for cancer research. I wanted to make a difference and help the dedicated and hardworking researchers bring an end to cancer. We have been very humbled by the wonderful love and support of family and friends and even strangers. While I have been organising the fundraiser I have been blown away by people’s generosity. Thank you to everyone who has kindly helped this day come together. It’s going to be a fantastic event filled with lots of music, laughter, great prizes and everyone is welcome. We’ll also hold an auction, a cut and colour for cancer and have an open mic for anyone who wants to sing on the day. I would really encourage others to donate or fundraise for cancer research because you may one day help save someone you love! I hope that maybe our story will give someone else some comfort in their own struggle with cancer.” ACRF supporter, Carol Robinson
Cancer Research Saved My Parents Posted on December 3, 2015March 13, 2018 by Carly du Toit Targeted laser treatments for breast cancer and early diagnostic tests for bowel cancer gave Christina more time with her mum and dad. “The best gifts I’ve ever received were the cancer treatments that saved my parents. My mum was diagnosed with breast cancer when I was living interstate so when I got the phone call I was in utter shock and disbelief. I came back to sit with her through as many of her appointments as I could because she just sort of shut off when they were going through all the different options, I think it was just too much to take in all at once. We had never been touched by cancer before, so everything we were hearing was new. At an appointment, one of the doctors explained to us that there was a new experimental treatment available that allowed them to better target cancerous lymph nodes, which meant that she could still keep her healthy ones. This new treatment was not only successful, it also lessened the aftermath of surgery. Some people may not know, but treatments have come a long way. This was a really eye-opening experience for me because it was the first time I could really see it first-hand. Later that year my dad was diagnosed with bowel cancer and we actually thought it was a cruel joke because the diagnosis was now the third one to hit our family over just a few months’ time. We lost my grandpa to oesophageal cancer shortly after my mum was diagnosed with breast cancer. I think after that we were on high alert because my dad noticed he was having symptoms and went in for testing straight away. It was because of this that they were able to catch bowel cancer early. I’m so thankful for the hard lessons we learned because I know they played a big part in saving my dad’s life. I know there are a lot of great charities out there, but the thing with cancer research is that you never know how many lives could be saved with the next breakthrough.” Christina Belperio – Regular Giver of the Month Share your story
Fiona knows how precious time is Posted on November 20, 2015March 13, 2018 by Carly du Toit “I will forever cherish the Christmas holidays I spent with my mum and my sister. My mum Annie was sedated and on pain relief, but she smiled and was so happy when I told her that she was finally going to be a grandmother. I still remember holding her hand and the way she smiled when I told her. My father kept joking saying ‘You’re going to be Grannie Annie, Grannie Annie.’ She now has six grandsons but sadly she didn’t get the chance to meet any of them. I think my mum would have been so proud of what thoughtful caring young men they have turned out to be. They have their grandmother’s sense of compassion and mischievous sense of humour. My mum was totally devoted to her family. She was so loving and supportive and was a fantastic role model for me and my two sisters – Andrea and Dominique. I’ve always tried to be as loving and giving as she was. I could easily talk to her about anything and she had this strength about her that I’ve always admired so much. My family originally came from Great Britain, and so every Christmas we’d have roast turkey with stuffing, baked potatoes and veggies, plum pudding with hot custard – even if it was 38°C. I’ve continued with the turkey (I just serve it cold with salad and seafood now). But I still love my Christmas pudding served hot so that is something that will never change! Also every Christmas me and my three siblings would hang up our Christmas stockings for Santa, and every year we’d find them filled in the morning with a small present. My husband Colyn and I carried on this tradition when we had Fraser and Lachlan – I even still try and put out their stockings though they sometimes grumble good-naturedly because they’re now teenagers. Losing my sister to the same disease cut a wound that will never heal. My sister Dom would do anything for anyone. She was well respected and loved and this was shown in the large crowd of friends and family who attended her funeral. She was special. Dom was also quite shy and quiet like my mum. She was passionate about the environment and worked as a volunteer. She loved being a mum – it was her greatest joy. She loved to take her boys out and would run around and play with them.” At night it was time for bedtime stories and cuddles. Because Riley and Logan loved Thomas the Tank Engine her husband, Ross built cubbyhouse and Dominique spent hours painting the face of Thomas the Tank Engine on the front. She would make special little carrot muffins for her boys because she knew they loved them. She would take them to outings and loved taking them for bush walks and showing them the birds, trees and other flora and fauna. She started up a mothers group where she lived as a chance for mums and babies to play and get to know each other. Her family miss her so very much, it was the special little things that she did for them. Being there to cuddle them and love them when they were sad or upset. Riley and Logan’s dad and grandmother shower them with love and take them on lots of adventures and holidays but they still miss their mum.” – Fiona Henrisson, ACRF Supporter Join Fiona and become a cancer research supporter today
Mother’s Day gift ideas: 3 simple ways to show your mum how special she is Posted on April 28, 2015March 14, 2018 by Carly du Toit Behind every wonderful human being is an even more amazing mother. May 10th is a special day for recognising them and it’s just around the corner! It can be tough to find a way to thank our mums for standing tall and showing us that it is possible to be strong and gentle at the same time. They inspire us, ground us and support us endlessly. So how can we show them they are appreciated in more ways than they will ever know? At the ACRF, we believe that the best gift you can give to your mum for Mother’s Day is your time. So here are some simple yet unique ideas of things you can do: Volunteer with her doing something she loves. She’ll get an extra dose of appreciation from the people she is helping. Get her an Entertainment Book! It’s full of deals on things you could do together. Or make an in-celebration donation to cancer research, a gift that will help protect her health and yours through world class research in prevention, diagnosis and cure. The ACRF can provide you with a selection of cards and cancer research ribbons, as a way of honouring and acknowledging your generous contribution to cancer research. Whatever you decide to do, make sure she feels the love – she showered you with it all your life after all!
Wishing you a Merry Christmas Posted on December 15, 2014November 16, 2022 by Carly du Toit From all of us here at the ACRF, we wish you and your loved ones a very happy and safe holiday this Christmas. Whatever you may be doing we hope you are surrounded by lots of laughter and smiles. Because of you, our amazing supporters, we surpassed $100 million in grants funding this year – what a great way to end 2014! We’re looking forward to an even better 2015, helping cancer researchers in their mission to end cancer. Please note we will be taking a short break over the Christmas holiday, with our office closing at COB Tuesday 23 December, 2014 and reopening on Monday 5 January, 2015. If you would like to get a kick-start on those good 2015 vibes, please feel free to donate via our secure web portal where our online donation elves will be working hard to process your Christmas donations and issue your receipts ASAP. As a final thank you for all your support this year we’ve put together this short video below. We look forward to staying in touch throughout 2015. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
Mother’s Day gift ideas for mum Posted on May 6, 2014February 25, 2018 by Carly du Toit We’ve got the perfect solution for those of you looking for Mother’s Day gift ideas that will make mum feel incredibly special! With Mother’s Day coming up this Sunday, why not consider a Mother’s Day gift to cancer research? – It’s the perfect way to celebrate life and give new hope for the future. This Mother’s Day gift is so simple – all you need to do is make a donation in lieu of gifts for your Mum. This way, your donation will go to research that has the power to beat all types of cancer, bringing new hope to cancer patients and their families around the world. Continue reading “Mother’s Day gift ideas for mum”
Show how much you care with a Valentine’s Day donation Posted on February 10, 2014February 25, 2018 by Carly du Toit With Valentine’s Day coming up this Friday, we’re sure most of you have already wrapped up a lovely gift, organised a delivery of a roses, booked in a dinner or organised a special surprise for your Valentine. After all, Valentine’s Day is a day to celebrate and cherish the special person you care about most, whether they know it or not! However, if you’re still wracking your brain for a gift that has meaning but is also original, why not look into truly spreading the love and giving a gift that has the power to change the world? Continue reading “Show how much you care with a Valentine’s Day donation”
Show how much you care with a Valentine’s Day donation Posted on February 10, 2014February 25, 2018 by Carly du Toit With Valentine’s Day coming up this Friday, we’re sure most of you have already wrapped up a lovely gift, organised a delivery of a roses, booked in a dinner or organised a special surprise for your Valentine. After all, Valentine’s Day is a day to celebrate and cherish the special person you care about most, whether they know it or not! However, if you’re still wracking your brain for a gift that has meaning but is also original, why not look into truly spreading the love and giving a gift that has the power to change the world? Continue reading “Show how much you care with a Valentine’s Day donation”
What’s your New Year’s Resolution? Posted on January 8, 2014February 25, 2018 by Carly du Toit Have you made any New Year’s Resolutions yet? Making New Year’s Resolutions is one of the best ways to get started on your path towards self-improvement, transition and promise for the future. Below we’ve put together a short list of some fun and creative resolutions you might want to adopt – or adapt! But don’t be distracted if you think you’ve seen them before because our little twist to these gems is that every single one of them can contribute to the fight against cancer! Continue reading “What’s your New Year’s Resolution?”
Why not make the most wonderful time of the year even more special? Posted on December 8, 2013February 25, 2018 by Carly du Toit It’s that time of the year again! All over Australia shopping strips are decked with Christmas wreaths, baubles and tinsel; Christmas trees glitter with lights, and carols ring through every store! At the ACRF we are all excited about getting into the spirit of Christmas and looking forward to spending time with family and friends. But in the search for the perfect gifts, sometimes the Christmas retail rush can get intimidating, even overwhelming, especially are we get closer to the big day! Continue reading “Why not make the most wonderful time of the year even more special?”
Mother's Day – gifts of hope for Mum Posted on April 26, 2013February 25, 2018 by Carly du Toit It’s nearly May, and many of us are starting to think about those meaningful Mother’s Day gift ideas that will show our Mums how much we truly care. We’ve got the perfect solution! Why not consider a Mother’s day gift to cancer research this year? – It’s the perfect way to celebrate life and give new hope for the future. Through the ACRF, you can make a direct donation in lieu of gifts for your Mum. This way, 100% of the donation dollars that we receive will go to research that has the power to beat all types of cancer, bringing new hope to cancer patients and their families around the world. You can also browse some of our other Mother’s Day gift idea options here (including beautiful hampers, and access to our own ACRF shopping Mall through which a percentage of sales will go to cancer research!) Continue reading “Mother's Day – gifts of hope for Mum”
Wishing you a Happy Easter! Posted on March 28, 2013February 25, 2018 by Carly du Toit From all of us at the Australian Cancer Research Foundation, we wish a Happy Easter to all of our supporters, with special wishes to our Greek (Kaló Páscha) and Italian (Buona Pasqua) donors! If you’re rushing to find those last minute Easter gifts, it’s not too late to make a small donation in lieu of easter eggs. Even though our office will be closed from Friday 6 April for the long weekend, if you make a donation online a receipt will be issued to your email address automatically. Thank you again for your ongoing support of our work.
Stuck on what to buy your colleague this year for Kris Kringle? Posted on November 9, 2012February 25, 2018 by Carly du Toit When you have only $10 or $20 to spend, it can sometimes be difficult to find a gift which isn’t of questionable quality or taste. This Christmas, instead of buying the usual box of chocolates or a bottle wine, why not make a contribution to world class cutting edge cancer research with a donation in lieu of gifts? At the Australian Cancer Research Foundation (ACRF), we have the solution to all of your Kris Kringle worries. We’ve got a gift to suit every budget, with a range of ACRF gifts priced upwards from $10. Check out our Christmas gift list here! In buying your Kris Kringle gifts from the ACRF this Christmas, you will not only impress your colleagues with your thoughtful and creative gift idea, but more importantly you will be contributing to fighting cancer. Continue reading “Stuck on what to buy your colleague this year for Kris Kringle?”
Two birthdays and a surprise engagement! Posted on September 6, 2012February 25, 2018 by Carly du Toit On the 18th August 2012, Nancy and Ian held their joint birthday celebrations at the Bankstown Sports Club. The invitations sent to guests requested that instead of giving gifts they make a donation to the Australian Cancer Research Foundation (ACRF). Nancy’s husband died of lung cancer six years ago and she decided that in his memory she would like the donations to go to a good cause. Nancy celebrated her milestone 60th birthday while Ian’s celebrated his 61st. The evening featured a magician who entertained the guests with a variety of tricks including vanishing playing cards and bending spoons with an Australian buffet style meal filling everyone up for dinner. The speeches included a toast by Nancy’s stepson, Jack, and a speech by Nancy’s girlfriend, Victoria, who has known her for 29 years. The highlight of the evening came when Nancy and Ian announced their engagement and Ian placed an engagement ring on Nancy’s finger. The guests then danced to lively music provided by the DJ for the remainder of the evening. Continue reading “Two birthdays and a surprise engagement!”
Help us fight cancer this Father’s Day Posted on August 9, 2012February 25, 2018 by Carly du Toit A donation to cancer research is a gift that truly gives back, with every dollar going to world-class research in Australia. Many ACRF supporters choose to give donations in lieu of gifts on special days such as Father’s Day through our ‘In Celebration’ giving program. We are so grateful for their support. If your Dad is your hero (and really, whose isn’t?) why not honour him this Father’s Day with a present that will bring hope to families around the world? Please click here to donate When you make your Father’s Day donation to the ACRF, we will gladly post a greeting card to your father, including your personal message of love and support. He will also receive a letter explaining the kind donation you have made in lieu of a gift at Father’s Day. Please note we will not disclose the amount you donated, as the donation receipt will be sent automatically to your email or postal address. Thank you for your thoughtful gift at this most special time of year.
A cancer research donation makes the perfect Mother’s Day gift Posted on May 2, 2012February 25, 2018 by Carly du Toit Mother’s Day is fast approaching, which means many of us are working overtime to think of creative but meaningful gift ideas. Many ACRF supporters choose to give donations in lieu of gifts on special days such as Mother’s Day through the ACRF’s ‘In Celebration’ giving program, and we are truly grateful for their support. Donations in lieu of gifts help to make an incredible difference to our work in cancer research. Every donation dollar we receive (100%) funds world-class research into all types of cancer. Wouldn’t a world without cancer be the greatest gift of all this Mother’s Day? Continue reading “A cancer research donation makes the perfect Mother’s Day gift”
A special birthday supporting cancer research Posted on March 23, 2011February 25, 2018 by Carly du Toit Cancer survivor Patrick Tully recently celebrated his 70th birthday surrounded by family & friends. His surprise party organized by family members, including daughter Kim, involved a wishing well for cancer research where loved ones could donate instead of giving presents. Guests were also given cancer research awareness ribbons as a sign of their support. Patrick was delighted by his celebration and especially by the donations to cancer research – giving an emotional speech about the importance of ensuring organisations like the Australian Cancer Research Foundation receive support even amongst all the tragedies in the world. Continue reading “A special birthday supporting cancer research”
Wedding bonbonniere with a difference Posted on October 6, 2010February 25, 2018 by Carly du Toit The wedding of Josie Standing and Ashley Pobje was a perfect day of celebration with family and friends on October 3rd 2010. Both Josie and Ashley have a family history of cancer and chose to support cancer research as part of their big day. Rather than giving the traditional lollies as gifts to their guests – they chose to donate to cancer research and give each guest a ribbon to represent their donation. Josie & Ashley were hoping this would make a small difference and encourage guests to think about donating themselves. The ribbons made a bigger impact than anyone expected. For one groomsman they were particularly significant as his father is currently undergoing treatment for bowel cancer and appreciated the gesture of a donation to cancer research rather than a traditional guest gift. Thank you Josie & Ashley for your generosity and for including cancer research on such a special occasion & we are delighted to hear about your wonderful day! For more details on how to support cancer research at your upcoming celebration visit Gifts to Cancer Research in Celebration.
