Vale Kirsty Bourke: A Courageous Voice for Young Australians Living with Cancer
The Cooper Rice-Brading Foundation is deeply saddened by the passing of Kirsty Bourke, a remarkable young woman whose courage, determination, and advocacy touched countless lives across the sarcoma and young adult cancer communities.
Kirsty was just 22 years old.
Diagnosed with metastatic Ewing sarcoma at the age of 16, Kirsty endured more than most people could imagine. Over six years, she faced repeated relapses, intensive chemotherapy, radiation therapy, major surgery, an autologous stem cell transplant, and countless hospital admissions. Yet despite the enormous physical and emotional toll of her disease, she remained determined to use her experience to improve the lives of others.
Throughout her cancer journey, Kirsty became a passionate advocate for young people navigating treatment within Australia’s healthcare system. Drawing on her own experiences as a regional Queensland patient, she spoke openly about the challenges faced by adolescents and young adults receiving care in adult hospitals and the need for dedicated youth-focused support services.
Her advocacy was deeply personal.
After transitioning from the Queensland Children’s Hospital to the Princess Alexandra Hospital, Kirsty experienced firsthand the challenges many young cancer patients face when moving from paediatric to adult healthcare. She became a strong and fearless voice for improved access to youth spaces, specialised support services, and age-appropriate care for young Australians facing cancer.
Even while undergoing treatment, Kirsty continued to champion change. She wrote directly to government representatives, engaged with healthcare leaders, and used every opportunity available to raise awareness of the gaps that exist for young people receiving cancer treatment. Her message was simple but powerful: young people fighting for their lives deserve to feel seen, supported, and understood.
What made Kirsty extraordinary was her refusal to let cancer define her.
Between treatments and periods of remission, she embraced life with determination and joy. She travelled, created memories with family and friends, moved into her own home, married the love of her life, and continued to dream about the future. Even when faced with further recurrence of her disease, she remained focused on helping others and creating positive change.
The impact Kirsty made extends far beyond her own story. Through her advocacy, honesty, and willingness to speak out, she helped shine a light on the experiences of young Australians living with cancer and challenged all of us to do better.
We also wish to acknowledge the extraordinary team at the Youth Cancer Service at the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane. The special bond they shared with Kirsty was evident to all who knew her. Their compassion, friendship, and unwavering support helped guide Kirsty and her family through some of life’s most difficult moments, and their care made a lasting difference.
Today we mourn the loss of a young woman taken far too soon. We grieve for the future she deserved and the many possibilities that should have been hers.
At the same time, we celebrate a life of courage, purpose, and impact.
Kirsty’s legacy will live on through the conversations she started, the awareness she raised, the change she fought for, and the countless people she inspired along the way.
Our love and deepest sympathies are with Kirsty’s husband Cayden, mum Bron, dad Brian, brother Matthew, close friends, healthcare teams, and all those whose lives were enriched by knowing her.
Thank you, Kirsty. Your voice mattered. Your advocacy mattered. Your life mattered.
You will never be forgotten
We have published the letters below, (with the consent of Kirsty and her husband Cayden) which remained unanswered by the Queensland Minister for Health, Timothy (Tim) Nicholls MP. They are emblematic of a system that too often fails to recognise the unique needs of young people with cancer and reflect Kirsty’s determination to ensure future patients receive the support, dignity, and age-appropriate care they deserve.
Youth Oncology at PAH