This page has been created by Ben and Amy, and it’s something we never thought we’d need to do.

Ben and Jeff have been mates since high school. Over the years, Jeff and his partner Elise have become family to us. They are the kind of people who would drop everything to help someone else without ever expecting anything in return. They are kind, generous, and quietly strong.

In 2020, Jeff was diagnosed with a rare brain cancer – a Papillary Tumour of the Pineal Gland. This is so rare that there are only 200 to 300 cases in the world to date. He underwent surgery to remove the Tumour, which was thankfully successful.

Since then, he has done what Jeff does best and kept going. No complaints. No handouts. Just getting on with life.

The reality is that the surgery left Jeff with ongoing seizures. He requires three monthly MRI scans to ensure the cancer hasn’t returned. He has never had any financial assistance for loss of income, medical appointments, or the long-term impact of living with cancer.

Recently, Jeff had booked a long-planned fishing trip to Vanuatu. It was something he had saved for and looked forward to as a proper break. Over $10,000 had already been paid.

For Jeff, this trip was never just about fishing. It was about having something to look forward to in a life lived with constant uncertainty. Living with the knowledge that the cancer could return at any time changes how you see the world. This was a rare chance for Jeff to feel normal, to breathe, and to enjoy life without appointments, scans, or fear hanging over him.

The night before he was due to leave, Jeff suffered multiple seizures, the first he had experienced in over two years. He was staying with us because we live close to the airport, and seeing it happen firsthand was terrifying. It was heartbreaking and confronting, and it gave us a glimpse into the reality that Elise and Jeff live with every day.

Jeff was medically unable to go on the trip.

Elise had to jump on a plan and fly to Brisbane to be by Jeff’s side and be able to take him home.

Even after explaining the circumstances to the charter company, they refused to offer a refund, a credit or a discount on another trip. Despite having travel insurance, Jeff had no coverage due to brain cancer being classed as a pre-existing condition.

In one night, that entire trip and the money behind it was gone.

To make matters even harder, Jeff will most likely lose his driver’s licence again due to the seizures. This will significantly impact his ability to work and support his family, Elise and their beautiful three-year-old son, Jack.

Jeff would never ask for help himself. This fundraiser exists because we love this family and simply couldn’t watch them absorb yet another unfair blow.

This is not about sympathy.

This is about helping a good, hard-working family recoup the cost of a break that was cruelly denied and easing the pressure during what will be another incredibly challenging year.

If you’re able to donate, thank you. If not, sharing this page means just as much. Every bit of support helps remind Jeff and Elise that they are not alone and that kindness still exists when life feels relentlessly unfair.

Thank you for standing with them.

Ben and Amy