Seventy-two-year-old Mrs Johnson was diagnosed with the asbestos-related cancer in July 2011 and has been battling the disease ever since, receiving a combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments.
Mrs Johnson was exposed to asbestos while living with her family in government housing in WA’s north when she cleaned up after repairs were done on the fibro house at the time.
She said her diagnosis rocked the family, who were keen to do anything they could to help.
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READ NOWMesothelioma claims the life of one person every 12 hours in Australia.
Convicts for a Cause invited the Perth Hills-based Reflections through Reality Foundation – which raises money to support medical research into the aggressive terminal cancer – to be a recipient of funds from the 2016 event.
The event was looking for Junior Ambassadors to spread the word about its fundraising efforts and Mrs Johnson’s grandchildren Sophie (14), Hannah (11), and Matthew Sambell (8) and Georgia Johnson (14) jumped at the chance.
“Researchers need more money and support to keep searching for answers. We don’t want others to go through what we are,” Sophie said.
Event co-ordinator Alison Dalziel said Convicts for a Cause 2016, which this year features a ‘wild west’ theme, was honoured to be able to support the search for a cure for mesothelioma.
“It’s devastating that the effects of asbestos are continuing to impact so many WA families and we hope this event, through Reflections through Reality, will help WA researchers make some much-needed breakthroughs,” she said.
The charitable efforts of Cystic Fibrosis WA, Diabetes Research WA, and the Rotary Club of Mt Lawley will also benefit from funds raised by a charity event on Saturday, November 5.
Visit convictsforacause.org.au for more details.