Tom Gleeson
Just over a year ago I met Heath through the internet. I was online
to promote comedy shows but he was online to fill in time while fighting
cancer. Amongst a sea of pretenders he was the only genuine person on
MySpace. Messages bounced back and forth. We were the same age. We liked
the same bands. We both liked gaming. The only thing we didn't have in
common, was that he was sick and I was not. So I invited him to come to
my Melbourne Comedy Festival show where I met his beautiful partner
Donna and I discovered a man who was facing a big challenge with great
humour and optimism. It was not long after that festival that he was
given the all clear.
Not long after the festival I went and visited Heath at his house. It
was very tidy, which painted a picture of a man out in the suburbs with
too much time on his hands. It was through Heath I made the discovery
that young men and women (but men especially) seemed to take on cancer
all by themselves. When you're not a cute kid or a bit older with
children and grandchildren of your own there just doesn't seem to be as
many people helping you with your struggle. All your friends in their
thirties can just be too busy with their own lives to stop and help out.
This is where young men and women can slip between the cracks.
Heath got sick again. The Melbourne Comedy Festival rolled around and I
invited him along to the show again. He told me he was not so well and
the doctors only gave him three months to go. He texted me that he
wanted to come to my show but insisted he would pay for tickets this
time. I replied that what use was a terminal illness if you can't get
free tickets out of it. I knew this would tickle his dark sense of
humour. He replied thanks.
Heath never got to my show. The next time my phone rang from Heath's
number it was a relative telling me that he had died. He died sooner
than the doctors had given him.
Heath recommended me to be the ambassador for The Warwick Foundation.
This is why I'm on board. To honour Heath's memory and to help people
like Heath feel like they're not alone.
Tom Gleeson
Comedian & Ambassador - The Warwick Foundation
For more information on Tom, visit his
official MySpace page or
read his biography.
Tom also has his own YouTube
Channel featuring his recent TV stand-up spots including a
never-before-seen act from the 2008 Melbourne Comedy Festival Gala.
Brad Johnson
I found out about the Warwick Foundation after receiving a letter from the founder, Samantha Lehmann. Sam inspired me to become involved in the Foundation and help raise awareness of the needs of young adults with cancer. I believe no one should have to travel the difficult cancer journey alone and I know that the Foundation 'Mates In My Shoes' program will ensure young adults no longer have to. The Warwick Foundation is a great initiative and very unique as it focuses specifically on helping young adults through their cancer journey, meeting their needs and helping them cope with challenges. I am very keen to assist in raising awareness of the Warwick Foundation and supporting young Australian adults throughout their cancer journey.
Brad Johnson
AFL Footballer (Western Bulldogs) & Ambassador - The Warwick Foundation
For more information on Brad, visit the Official AFL website.
