Actor Stephen Curry and co-leader of the Children’s Cancer Institute liquid biopsy program Rob Salomon came to Tallarook to lend a hand, or a shovel, to Love Your Sister co-founder Sam Johnson’s latest campaign.
Photo by
Billie Davern
“It’s good sore. It’s voluntary sore. I choose to be sore,” Love Your Sister co-founder Sam Johnson said, a shovel in hand and “the OG of holes” beside him.
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“Cancer patients don’t choose that; they are in involuntary pain, so this is a pleasure.”
For weeks, Mr Johnson has been attacking the ground at Luna Meadows Equestrian Centre in the bush of Tallarook to form a large, heart-shaped indent.
On Tuesday, September 23, his handiwork was inspected by Australia’s pre-eminent hole expert.
Stephen Curry, known for his portrayal of Dale Kerrigan, the character who famously “dug a hole” in the Aussie classic The Castle, made his way to the site in support of the campaign.
“I love Tallarook, and I thought coming to a beautiful place like this, for a beautiful cause like this, was irresistible,” Mr Curry said.
“It’s as much about awareness as it is raising money, and that’s what Love Your Sister is so good at: pulling these kinds of ridiculous stunts like Sam Johnson digging a big, love heart-shaped hole.
“It’s about awareness and raising money, and ultimately being able to save kids’ lives.”
Mr Johnson’s hole-digging feat began on his sister Connie’s “death-iversary”.
“Although she died as a mum with cancer, she was a kid with cancer. When she was 11, she got the bad news,” Mr Johnson said.
“So, on her death-iversary, I wanted to do something for other kids, kids like her.
“She’d be stupidly proud of me. We were really terrified that Love Your Sister would die when she died, and it’s only gone from strength to strength.”
Stephen Curry offers Sam Johnson his best hole-digging advice.
Photo by
Billie Davern
The hole is a metaphor for where Mr Johnson currently finds himself: determined to keep a significant promise made to the Children’s Cancer Institute of Australia.
He pledged $186,484 to the research centre to aid its roll-out of the first liquid biopsy technology for cancer treatment in the world.
Joining the pair of humble hole-diggers was CCIA co-leader of the liquid biopsy program Rob Salomon, who made the trek to Tallarook from Sydney.
Mr Salomon said Love Your Sister’s campaigning had not only been valuable in terms of funding, but also drew attention to the new technology, making it easier for real world application.
“A tumour starts as one thing, but by the time it comes back, it’s very unlikely to be the same thing. Our tests have inbuilt abilities to track emerging changes, so we can change treatment on the basis of that,” he said.
“About 10 per cent of the kids we’ve looked at have had those emerging changes that we could see. That’s really powerful.
“It’s not just about monitoring disease: it’s about diagnosing new disease, it’s finding better, more effective treatments. It’s really about longitudinal, precision medicine.”
Just $30,000 shy of the big number, Mr Johnson, looking at his heart-shaped hole, said it felt like “God turning up” to have Mr Curry drop by.
And while his back and arms ache, he knows he’s digging for good.
“With every shovel, I feel better,” he said.
“We’re looking after sick kids better than anyone else in the world.”
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