Sisters Raise $70K for Cancer Research After Losing Mom

When Christine Gray woke up with a sore shoulder during a 2018 family camping trip, she thought she'd simply slept wrong. Tests revealed something far more serious: multiple myeloma, a rare blood cancer that had already spread throughout her body, from her skull to her ribs and femur.

For two years, the 56-year-old grandmother fought through radiation, chemotherapy, and a stem cell transplant. Her four daughters describe her not just as a mother, but as their best friend. In 2020, Christine developed sepsis after a fall and passed away, leaving behind her husband George, four daughters, and several grandchildren.

In those raw months of grief, the family made a decision. Something good had to come from their loss.

"I think the first words we said were, like, memories of Mum," daughter Elli Wust recalled. The next year, she hosted the first "Memories of Mum" event in her backyard with about 30 people.

Six years later, that small gathering has transformed into something remarkable. Sisters Elli, Jodie, Holly, and Emily now host two black-tie events each Mother's Day: one in Rockhampton where some sisters live, and another in Tamborine on the Gold Coast where the family grew up.

"The core value of the event is celebrating mums that aren't with us, but also celebrating the ones that are," Elli said. The events have raised nearly $50,000 alone, contributing to a family total of $72,000 for the Leukaemia Foundation.

The Ripple Effect

That money directly supports families facing the same journey Christine did. The Leukaemia Foundation uses donations to provide free accommodation near treatment centers, financial support, and transportation for families. Funds also support research for better treatments and diagnostics.

The need is urgent. More than 170,000 Australians live with blood cancer or related disorders, and 17 people die from it every day. It's the second most common cancer diagnosed in Australian women, yet symptoms like fatigue, soreness, and infections often mimic common illnesses, making early detection challenging.

For Elli's children born after Christine's death, Nanny lives on through stories and symbols. The family released butterflies at Christine's funeral, and now every butterfly sighting becomes a moment of connection. "Even my middle child says, 'Mum, there's Nanny,'" Elli shared.

The sisters don't focus much on the dollar amounts, though the impact is undeniable. "We love raising it, it's just a bonus because we're creating such a nice platform," Elli said.

Love transforms grief into hope, one Mother's Day at a time.