Grant and Denise Hearn have been raising money for cancer charities for more than two decades. Photo: Griffith Cancer Advocates Facebook.
Griffith cancer advocates Grant and Denise Hearn are poised to bring up a huge fundraising milestone for their group after receiving a major international award for their charity work.
The husband-and-wife duo began a crusade more than two decades ago after Denise was diagnosed with stomach cancer and they found themselves having to travel hundreds of kilometres for treatment.
This helped them realise that many rural families literally can’t afford to get sick, so they started Griffith Relay for Life – the local arm of a global movement that raises funds for cancer research, treatment and advocacy.
“We have raised $994,000 since we started in 2002,” Grant said.
“We have a million-dollar appeal going at the moment, and we are aiming to exceed that mark early in 2026.”
Relay For Life began in 1985 in Tacoma, Washington, when a surgeon named Dr Gordy Klatt wanted to raise money for the American Cancer Society. To make a point about endurance and solidarity with cancer patients, he walked and ran around a track for 24 hours straight, raising about US$27,000.
Grant thanks the whole team at Griffith Relay for Life for their support.
Since then, similar movements have started in 35 countries. Grant and Denise were recently recognised as among the highest performers in the world when they were named Relay for Life’s only two Australian Global Heroes of Hope – joining award winners from nations such as India, Japan, South Africa and Portugal.
“It’s a huge honour and totally unexpected; we didn’t even know we were nominated,” Grant said.
“Each year, all the countries who do the Relay for Life get to nominate people who they think are worthy to be a global hero of hope for their commitment to the cause. Out of the 35 countries, there were 19 people who were chosen from 11 countries.
“We’d like to thank Brianna Brown from the Cancer Council (CCNSW) for nominating us and providing us with a platform that enables us to do our very best. We are also grateful for the CCNSW team for the kind words and sentiments they have shared with us since the list was announced.
“We thank all participants and all committee members who have maintained Griffith Relay for Life as our community’s biggest platform to fight back against all cancers. You have directly shaped our relays and allowed us to achieve our best.”
In addition to fundraising, the couple have also been fearless advocates who have pressured politicians to improve radiation and oncology services in small towns. They were part of a push to get a dedicated cancer care clinic in Griffith by 2023 and to ensure this clinic was able to provide bulk-billed treatment, meaning patients were not left out of pocket.
While their major fundraising drive doesn’t happen until October, their work continues throughout the year. This weekend, Denise and Grant did an event called the World Cancer Walk at Collina Oval.
“Every time zone gets allocated an hour to have people walking for cancer. New Zealand is first, then us, then other countries each take their turn over a 24-hour timeframe,” Grant said.
He has a simple message for the community for 2026.
“Just keep fighting. We can all do something. We don’t all have to be the biggest fundraiser, but the skills one person has may be different to the rest and can add to our group,” Grant said.
If you’d like to get involved or support Relay for Life, get in touch with Grant and Denise through the Griffith Cancer Advocates Facebook page or you can donate to their million-dollar appeal.
