By Danielle Kutchel
Four women from across Casey and Cardinia are flexing their fighting muscles and telling cancer where to go.
Terrie, her daughter Katelyn, and close friends Kelly and Renae have banded together to organise the ‘Show us your Fight…Stop Cancer’ fundraiser.
The event aims to draw attention to all cancers – whether they affect men or women – and raise funds for the Cancer Council.
Their goal is simple: to stop cancer.
The event was borne of Terrie’s personal experiences with the disease.
She said she’s hit the cancer jackpot: at the age of 20, she was diagnosed with skin cancer. In February 2019, she was diagnosed with stage 2 cervical cancer and in September 2019, with stage 3-4 bowel cancer.
Through it all, Katelyn, Kelly and Renae have been by her side, supporting her in her fight against the awful disease.
Terrie also has a mutant gene in her family that means she is at a higher risk of breast cancer.
“I have it, so does my daughter and so does my sister. My mum and aunty both passed away from the gene – from the cancer,” she explained.
A single mum of a 19-year-old and a 21-year-old, Terrie said her family has been through hell and back during her illnesses.
After learning of the mutant gene in her DNA, Terrie knew there was a possibility she would have breast cancer as well and went to get some tests done.
When she told her family of the possibility, Katelyn decided they wouldn’t go down without a fight – and the idea of the fundraiser sprung to life.
“Being told you’ve got cancer is one of the worst things in the world, but it’s worse to tell your family,” Terrie explained.
“What they don’t tell you is the financial strain on families is astronomical; I finished chemo and a week later we went into lockdown, so we haven’t recovered fully financially.”
Nevertheless, Terrie is optimistic about the turns her life has taken.
“I’m alive and get to spend more time with my family,” she said.
Through the fundraiser, the friends want to spread the word to people to get tested as early as possible, to increase their chances of survival.
“If you show your bits to your doctor it can save your life,” Terrie said with a laugh.
“Cancer is cancer; it doesn’t matter whether you’re female or male, young or old, it doesn’t discriminate. It’s not age friendly or gender specific.”
For her part, Terrie has been through chemotherapy, a hysterectomy and a “big-arse surgery”.
She’s had all of her large bowel removed as well as part of her stomach and small bowel, and now has numbness down her left side.
Thanks to her faulty gene, the possibility of further treatments including a mastectomy is on the horizon, to ward off breast cancer.
“With the gene, it’s only a matter of time. I would rather be here for my grandkids. I’m 44, I’m not going to let cancer get me,” she said.
The fundraiser will be held on Friday 23 July at the Hallam Hotel and tickets are limited.
Finger food will be supplied and guests will enjoy a silent auction with amazing prizes, including merchandise donated by Jimmy Barnes and Kylie Minogue, and tickets to see Jon Stevens.
There will be door prizes, a raffle, trivia and a DJ as well.
Every cent raised will go to the Cancer Council.
“We’re just four Aussie chicks who want to have a good time, raise money and get some awareness,” Terrie said.
“We’re hoping we can pull this off and rock the hell out of it.”
For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/showusyourfight.StopCancer
