Cancer Care Hub Campaign Kicks Off With Generous Donations

Ahero of the Far North Queensland community has stepped forward once again to help save lives.

Joyce Swinton doesn’t wear scrubs or carry a stethoscope but her $250,000 donation to the Cancer Care Hub makes her a hero in the eyes of the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation team.

Mrs Swinton, 92, has been personally touched by cancer, having lost her husband, daughter and son-in-law to the disease, which is why she is supporting the appeal.

To date, she has donated $1.2 million to the foundation, money she said she doesn’t need and would prefer to see used for the benefit of our community.

“It was very important to my daughter and therefore to me, that the money she left goes towards helping local people,” she said.

Mrs Swinton has already donated to cancer services through the foundation, as well as cardiology and a training ultrasound simulator.

The lifelong local said the donations were her way of paying forward the money her daughter bequeathed her.

She has personally had to travel to Townsville for medical treatment and feels it is important for people to have health care close to home.

Foundation CEO Gina Hogan paid tribute to Mrs Swinton and called her a hero of the region.

“What she has done for future generations is truly incredible and an amazing legacy for which we will be eternally grateful,” Mrs Hogan said.

The Foundation’s Cancer Care Hub $1.5 million campaign is gathering steam, with almost a quarter of the funds needed, already raised.

Taking patient care to the next level is the catch-cry of the campaign, which will mean less cancer patients have to travel south for treatment, more will live longer with cancer as new treatments are discovered, more can be treated each day, chemotherapy manufacturing will be expanded on site and inpatients will have a more peaceful treatment experience.

“There has been a 40 percent increase in cancer activity at the Liz Plummer Cancer Care Centre in the past five years,” Mrs Hogan said.

“This is primarily because of the vast array of cancer treatments now available – people are living longer with cancer rather than dying prematurely.”

Mrs Swinton’s donation has inspired one of the giants of the FNQ development industry, who dug deep to support cancer patients in the region.

Kenfrost Homes also donated $250,000 towards the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation’s Cancer Care Hub, bringing the total raised so far to $610,000 – almost 40 percent of the total needed.

Kenfrost Homes Marketing Coordinator Alex Loughton said owner John Richardson was inspired by Mrs Swinton’s donation.

“Cairns needs it for sure,” Mr Richardson said. “A lot of people find themselves in unfortunate circumstances through no fault of their own.

It’s the sort of thing Cairns needs, so we’re on board.”

* Every donation, large and small, will make a difference. If you would like to assist, contact the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation or visit www.fnqhf.org.au