Month: July 2025

Jack Gibson’s Legacy of Care

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“In February 2017, Jack Gibson, at the age of 20, was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma. Jack was about to enter his third year at university and was living his best life. He was one of almost 2000 people diagnosed with sarcoma that year.

Sarcoma, while rare, is the most common cause of cancer related death in people under the age of 24.

Despite his best efforts, and those of his medical staff, family and friends, Jack passed away on November 1, 2022, almost 6 years later.

CRBF established a Sarcoma Patient and Family Support Programme and Jack, as Patient Advocate, provided his insight into the torrid and brutal journey that patients and families endure in search of the elusive recovery from Sarcoma.

Jack was passionate about helping those patients and their families who have or will in the future, be diagnosed with sarcoma.

Since his death, Jack’s family and fabulous group of friends have continued to work to establish a fund to support CRBF’s patient support programme that was renamed in his honour as the Jack Gibson Sarcoma Patient and Family Support Programme (JGSP&FSP). 

This fund aims to support the programme in perpetuity and thus continue to help those most in need of assistance while navigating a sarcoma diagnosis.

Due to the generosity of so many, to date over $500,000 has been raised but Jack’s family and friends are aiming to raise $1M to ensure the Fund’s longevity.” – Suzie Carlon & Neil Gibson (Jack’s parents)  

CRBF remains deeply and eternally grateful to the Gibson family and their loyal supporters for their unwavering commitment in reaching this extraordinary milestone. This vital funding will help secure the longevity of the Jack Gibson Sarcoma Patient & Family Support Programme, ensuring that patients and their families continue to receive the personalised, compassionate care they so richly deserve, both now and into the future.

If you or someone you know could benefit from specialised support through the JGSP&FSP please go to: https://www.crbf.org.au/patient-support/

Turning the adversity of sarcoma into hope

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“I had a sore shoulder for six months. I thought I’d just injured it at work…”

When Stacey Walvin first began experiencing shoulder pain in 2020, she assumed it was a work-related injury, an occupational hazard for a lifelong dance teacher. After months of seeing physiotherapists and massage therapists with no relief, the persistent pain led to something far more serious: a diagnosis of chondrosarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer.

“Wasn’t 2020 a fun year?” Stacey says with trademark humour, masking the deep and sudden shift that diagnosis brought to her life.

This August, Stacey marks five years in remission, a milestone filled with gratitude, reflection, and resilience. But the path to this point has been far from smooth. The surgery required to remove the tumour left her without the use of her shoulder joint, which is an unimaginable outcome for someone whose life has been spent moving to music and guiding others to do the same.

“The hardest part has been not being able to tie up my own hair,” Stacey admits. “That was something I never thought I’d miss, but it’s the small, everyday things you grieve the most. I live with pain every day. It comes and goes, but it’s manageable. What surprises me most is the emotional pain which still catches me off guard.”

She recalls a moment at the beach, watching windsurfers with her family. A sudden wave of grief hit her when realising she’d never be able to do something like that. “I burst into tears. Then my family gently asked me, ‘Did you ever want to windsurf?” I laughed, because the answer was no. It wasn’t about the activity, it was about the choice being taken away from me.

Despite everything, Stacey has remained deeply connected to her passion: dance. She continues to run her beloved Generation Dance Centre, though she’s had to adapt her teaching style. “I had to stop teaching the littlest ones, which broke my heart a bit -they were always my favourites. But I’ve learned to teach differently, using words more than demonstrating, and sometimes relying on older students to show steps.”

Stacey is also a proud mum of four incredible children and two beautiful grandchildren, who have walked every step of this journey alongside her.

Each year, her studio’s Mid-Year Showcase has become a celebration of resilience and a powerful fundraising event for CRBF. “Our students perform, local businesses donate prizes for our raffles, and we always have a sausage sizzle. This year, we had about 300 guests. I honestly couldn’t tell you how much we’ve raised over the years, but since my diagnosis, every cent has gone to sarcoma research and support through CRBF.”

Stacey’s story is one of enduring strength, humour, and an unshakeable commitment to giving back, despite the personal cost.

She is a reminder that sarcoma doesn’t just impact the body; it reaches deep into a person’s identity, their passions, and their everyday life. Yet even in the face of such profound change, Stacey continues to dance – perhaps not always physically, but in spirit, she’s never missed a step.