George Organ

For many of us, cancer has had an impact on our lives, and when a loved one passes away, the space they leave behind touches each of us in unique ways. When George’s beloved mother, Annie, sadly passed away from breast cancer in 2019, George found solace in honouring his mother’s memory by making a meaningful commitment to ACRF in support of cancer research.

“After you lose someone close, you can’t help but ask yourself what you could have done to make things different, change the outcome. Supporting charities is really the only way that I can directly contribute to a world without cancer. So, for me, that’s how I can leave a legacy for myself as well as for mum,” George shares.

Annie was sadly diagnosed with Stage four breast cancer in January 2019 - a challenging journey that extended over two and a half years. “It was a pretty horrible ride, as anyone who has had this horrible disease can attest. Test after test, treatment after treatment, setback after setback, not only was it physically taxing on mum, but emotionally it also felt like a lot of the joy and hope was stripped from her life, and that was tough to watch. I cared for her in those years and did what I could to help, but most of all I tried to make the most of the limited time we had left together.”

In her retirement, Annie devoted herself to helping others, volunteering at the local community centre and teaching English to new migrants. She also helped others through charitable work with her Buddhist community, running fundraisers and serving at soup kitchens. Her commitment to giving back inspired George to follow in her footsteps.

George reflected on the impact of his mother’s loss and recognised that, supporting charities was a way he could contribute to a cancer free future. “For me, that’s how I can leave a legacy for myself as well as for mum.” 

George views cancer research as essential, believing that continued investment in innovative ideas is crucial. “It's the only way we can stop this horrible disease from robbing people of a future with their loved ones. Despite decades of progress, it’s clear that the existing way of doing things won’t provide the leaps we need to get ahead of the game.” 

Since his mother’s diagnosis, George has become actively involved in fundraising efforts. He participated in Dry July, raising over $7,500. Since then, he has continued to fundraise, surpassing $20,000 over the years. His efforts also include participating ACRF’s 2km A Day In May challenge in 2024. Recently, he has lent his skills as a copywriter to support ACRF’s campaigns, furthering his commitment to making a meaningful impact. Through these initiatives, George honours his mother’s legacy while raising vital funds for cancer research – bringing us closer to a world without cancer.