Bowel Cancer Australia

Why I Created Fit4Bowel24

At 28 years old, I heard the words no one ever expects to hear:

“You have stage 3 bowel cancer.”

I was young, fit, active, and living my life with no reason to believe cancer was even on the radar. But suddenly everything changed. Overnight I went from planning my future to fighting for it.

Chemotherapy, surgeries, ileostomy bag, fear, resilience, and survival became my everyday reality. I faced it mostly on my own, far from my family, but with an inner strength I didn’t know I had. Along the way, I also had the heartbreak of losing friends — young, vibrant people just like me — to this disease. Their faces and their stories stay with me. Some didn’t get the chance to keep fighting. I carry them with me in everything I do.

That’s why Fit4Bowel24 was born.

It’s not just an event, it’s a reminder that life is fragile, that early-onset bowel cancer is real, that young people do get bowel cancer, and that awareness and research save lives.

This 24-hour fitness event brings together teams of legends who will keep a cardio machine moving for 24 straight hours. It’s about endurance, community, and honouring every person touched by bowel cancer — including those who didn’t get a second chance.

All proceeds from this event will be donated to Bowel Cancer Australia, proudly supporting research into early-onset bowel cancer and helping many Australians diagnosed with bowel cancer each year.

Bowel cancer is the second deadliest cancer in Australia, yet one of the most treatable when detected early.

If you can not attend or participate on the day, please consider donating, no matter the size as it can directly support:

• early detection and prevention research

• support services for patients and families

• advocacy for young-onset bowel cancer

• honouring those we’ve lost

• giving hope to those still fighting

This cause is personal.

This fight is ongoing.

And together, we can make a real difference.

Thank you for reading my story, for supporting this event, and for standing alongside every Australian impacted by bowel cancer.

With love and strength,

Vanessa

On 24th December 2022, I was diagnosed with Stage 2 bowel cancer. For six months leading up to that point, I felt unwell and was repeatedly told that I was 'too young' for certain diseases or conditions. On 9th January 2023, I underwent a right hemicolectomy, and since that moment, I have been driven to help others facing similar challenges.

It is a common misconception that bowel cancer is 'an old person's disease,' but the truth is no one is too young to have bowel cancer. While most newly diagnosed bowel cancer cases occur in individuals aged 50 and over, approximately 1 in 10 (10.7%) Australians diagnosed with this disease are under the age of 50.

Bowel Cancer Australia is the leading community-funded charity dedicated to prevention, early diagnosis, research, quality treatment, and providing the best care for everyone affected by bowel cancer. Your donations are vital in supporting their incredible work, which includes:

Challenging perceptions through dynamic campaigns that raise awareness and inspire action

Enhancing health knowledge through the provision of practical information and programs

Advocacy for what matters most to those affected by bowel cancer, empowering them with tools and knowledge for self-advocacy

Providing practical and emotional support for the growing number of Australians battling bowel cancer, fostering communities through shared experiences, and creating a powerful voice for change

Campaigning for access to quality treatment and care, ensuring more individuals live beyond bowel cancer

Funding research to discover a cure for bowel cancer

Please join me in making a difference. Any donation will have an impact. Thank you in advance for your contribution to this cause, which holds immense personal significance for me.

You can follow my journey on Instagram @brendangivesacrap and learn more about how your support of Bowel Cancer Australia contributes meaningfully and provides measurable benefits by visiting bowelcanceraustraliaimpact.org.

Thank you once again, and remember: break the taboo, and check your poo!

Hi we’re David and Mark, in September 2021 we lost our brother Matt to bowel cancer.

Matt was diagnosed in June 2021 and died three months later, just after his 39th birthday.

Matt was the second eldest of five boys and an amazing father to his two children.

Always ready to help whoever needed a hand and always keen for a game of footy or weekend hunting, he led a very active lifestyle. Hearing Matt’s sudden prognosis and diagnosis was devastating to us all, especially Matt who still felt he had so much life left to live.

As a family we watched Matt suffer and fight fiercely through the hardest three months of his life. We had to support him through this cruel and aggressive disease, that is bowel cancer.

The age for bowel cancer victims has decreased rapidly in recent years and continues to decrease, yet our screening age does not.

Matt was one of the 293 Australians per week that are given the devastating news they have bowel cancer. He was also one of the 101 Australians who lose their lives to bowel cancer every week.

We are fundraising to try and make a change to this and raise awareness, so other families don’t have to go through what Matt and our family went through.

In September 2022, one year after his passing, we rode on Honda CT10 postie bikes from Wilsons prom to Cape York and back. We did this in just 24 days and raised $20,000, with the support of our friend Mark Venturin (Ace).

Following this in September 2023, we rode a circuit on the same CT10’s through the Victorian High Country. We rode our way through the steep hills, crossing over the great heights of Mount Hotham.

This year we will continue to raise money for Bowel Cancer Australia. We will do this by riding along the Great Ocean Road, to the South Australian border and then looping back over the Grampians, on an epic four-day adventure. We will be joined by our newest member of the ONLY 39 crew, Danielle. Danielle will be riding in honour of her friend Maddie.

Maddie is a cherished wife and mum of two small children. Devastatingly Maddie has recently been diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer.

Bowel Cancer Australia is the leading community-funded charity dedicated to; prevention, early diagnosis, research, quality treatment and the best care for everyone affected by bowel cancer in Australia.

Our 2025 ride for bowel cancer awareness, is in support of Danielle’s dear friend Maddie and in honour of our brother matt.

It is also in honour of all past, present and future victims of bowel cancer.

Thank you in advance for your contribution to this cause it means so much to us.

For updates and live feeds on the ride please follow our Facebook page. If you could give it a like and share it would be much appreciated.

Hello, my name is Charlie and me and my friend Oli are raising money for bowel cancer research. Recently my mother Awenna passed away from a year long battle with stage 4 bowel cancer. She fought so hard to stay alive to be here for all 3 of her kids and her husband at home. She was paralysed from her waist down for the last year of her life and had fought through pain during this time. This research is extremely important to me as my mum left a gap in our family that no one could ever fill again with her kindness and lovingness towards everyone. I don't want any family to ever have to go through what my family went through with losing their mother and wife. The funds will be used for research into bowel cancer and easier ways to be able to treat the cancer and hopefully beat the cancer.

If you decide to donate I thank you immensely.

In August this year friends Troy and Shaun are flying to Perth and riding their pushbikes home to Terrigal, NSW– over 4000 kms. This adventure will be fully self-sufficient - everything we need will be on our bikes and we’ll camp most nights of our 4 week journey. We're looking forward to crossing the Nullarbor and camping on the cliffs of the Great Australian Bight to name a few, and seeing Australia from a different perspective.

Bowel Cancer is the 4th most common cancer and the 2nd most deadliest with over 100 people dying each week - in 2019 Troy's brother became one of those statistics and too many others we know have fought this disease. 99% of cases can be treated successfully if detected and treated in its earliest stage. If you notice ANY changes in your bowel habits see your Doctor asap - it's not worth the wait.

Do you want to join me in making a difference? We're raising money in aid of Bowel Cancer Australia and every donation will help. Thank you in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to us.

More information about Bowel Cancer Australia: Bowel Cancer Australia is the leading community-funded charity dedicated to prevention, early diagnosis, research, quality treatment and care, so everyone affected by bowel cancer can live their best life.

You can learn more about how your support of Bowel Cancer Australia is contributing in a meaningful and impactful way that produces measurable benefits at bowelcanceraustraliaimpact.org

I'm raising money in aid of Bowel Cancer Australia and every donation will help. Thank you in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to me.

At only 32 I’ve recently been diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer. Bowel cancer is no longer an old man’s disease, it’s become increasingly common in young people like me. In women it’s the second most common type of newly diagnosed cancer & third deadliest. As a mother of a beautiful 16 month old girl, spreading awareness amongst women about how common bowel cancer is in women is at the forefront of my mind. Being only 32 & having little to no symptoms means that raising awareness & funds for early diagnosis is incredibly important to me. My cancer battle has only just begun, but I feel incredibly grateful for all the support that I’ve had from family, friends & my medical team.

More information about Bowel Cancer Australia: Bowel Cancer Australia is the leading community-funded charity dedicated to prevention, early diagnosis, research, quality treatment and care, so everyone affected by bowel cancer can live their best life.

You can learn more about how your support of Bowel Cancer Australia is contributing in a meaningful and impactful way that produces measurable benefits here – bowelcanceraustraliaimpact.org

Hi there,

This March, I’ll be running at the Inverloch Running Festival in memory of my incredible father, who lost his battle with bowel cancer at just 63 years old in July 2024. As a way to assist bowel cancer Australia I want to raise awareness and funds to combat this devastating disease.

Bowel cancer is one of the most common cancers, yet it often goes unnoticed until it’s too late. Early detection is crucial, and through this effort, I hope to emphasize the importance of screenings and support.

All donations will go directly to Bowel Cancer Australia to support research, patient care, and advocacy.

Every step I take will be for my dad and all those fighting bowel cancer. Please consider donating or cheering me on. Together, we can make a difference.

Thank you for your support

Having lost my dad to bowel cancer in late 2023, I have made it my mission to raise money annually for a charity which priorities the research and care of bowel cancer patients.

I hope we can all make a difference, and prevent at least one other person and their loved ones from having the same experience.

You can learn more about how your support of Bowel Cancer Australia is contributing in a meaningful and impactful way that produces measurable benefits here – bowelcanceraustraliaimpact.org

Hey everyone,

Thank you so much for taking the time to view my fundraiser! As many of you may know my Mum Linda passed away in 2021 from bowel cancer. On her 3 year passing date 27/10/2024 I will be shaving my head to bring awareness to bowel cancer and the impact that this awful disease has for many of us. I’ve created this fundraiser to raise as much money as I can for this important cause.

Bowel cancer is Australia’s second deadliest cancer, with over 15,500 new cases each year. I’ve partnered with Bowel Cancer Australia as they are the leading community-funded charity dedicated to prevention, early diagnosis, research, quality treatment and care.

All donations will go towards those affected by bowel cancer to help them live their best possible life.

Thank you in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to me. Your donations and shares are greatly appreciated!

More information about Bowel Cancer Australia:

You can learn more about how your support of Bowel Cancer Australia is contributing in a meaningful and impactful way that produces measurable benefits here – bowelcanceraustraliaimpact.org

The team at Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel Sydney is proud to organise the hotel's 11th Annual Gala Dinner. Over the years we have supported many different children's charities and raised over 500k.

This year's event is very close to our hearts as it is being held in memory of our General Manager's daughter Beth Tudehope.

Many of our team members have been privileged to meet Beth over the years, as she would often stop by to see her dad. We all remember her as a loving, warm and driven person.

Please see a personal message from our General Manager Peter Tudehope below:

"This year's Annual Gala dinner fundraiser is for Bowel Cancer Australia. The organization we have selected is very close to my heart.

I lost my oldest daughter Beth to bowel cancer in February and one of my promises to her was I would do everything I could to try and prevent other young people going through what she went through.

Your presence and generosity at our Gala Dinner would not only mark a significant moment in our journey, but also contribute to a cause that holds great importance for me.

With your support, I am confident that this year's event will be a tremendous success, exceeding any of our previous fundraisers. Thank you in advance for everything you will do to support this year's Gala Dinner."

Event Details:

Friday 20th September 2024

6:30PM

Ticket price: $250 per ticket, $2,500 for a table of 10

RSVP: contact Annika Spaans on 02 8214 0161

Please also be in touch if you wish to support the event in another way. We are currently also sourcing prizes for the night.

In May 2023 after a 3 year long battle with bowel cancer we lost our beautiful sister, she was only 35. She was a daughter, sister, a great friend, wife and a mummy to 3 beautiful kids.

This June being bowel cancer awareness month we are doing this challenge for her.

Throughout June, my family and I are aiming to cover a combined total of 700km by walking, running or cycling. We invite you to support us by donating or by setting your own distance challenge for the month.

All contributions will go to bowel cancer Australia.

Please join our group, share your progress and post selfies with your distance updates. Wear purple or green to honour our beloved Sam.

Spread the word and let’s fight this terrible disease together.

Do you want to join me in making a difference? I'm raising money in aid of Bowel Cancer Australia and every donation will help. Thank you in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to me.

More information about Bowel Cancer Australia: Bowel Cancer Australia is the leading community-funded charity dedicated to prevention, early diagnosis, research, quality treatment and care, so everyone affected by bowel cancer can live their best life.

You can learn more about how your support of Bowel Cancer Australia is contributing in a meaningful and impactful way that produces measurable benefits here – bowelcanceraustraliaimpact.org