As an avid knitter for most of her life, Fay Skuthorpe is never far from her knitting needles and a ball of wool. In fact, these trusty items were by her side on her very first day of breast cancer treatment at Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, in 2014.
That same day, Fay discovered our in-house art program, Arterie. Always thinking of others, Fay was inspired to begin her next project - knitting beanies for fellow chemotherapy patients.
Fay’s beautifully designed knitting pattern quickly became a cherished part of our community. Ten years later, her original pattern is still used by patients in our Arterie program.
Although Fay is now cancer-free, her connection to Chris O’Brien Lifehouse sadly extends beyond her own experience. Her husband Jim was diagnosed with lymphoma and also received treatment at Chris O’Brien Lifehouse before passing away in 2021.
“Throughout our visits, both Jim and I found comfort in the warmth and support of the staff,” Fay says. “Small acts of kindness, like receiving a warm knitted blanket on a cold day, the CEO’s visits during treatment, access to specialist nurses, and engaging in projects with the Arterie girls, all meant so much to us. Chris O'Brien Lifehouse is a place no one wants to come to. But if you do, the treatment and support is amazing.”
Volunteering and supporting charities has always been central to Fay and Jim’s lives, and they wanted to create a legacy that continued their commitment to helping others. To ensure that the compassionate care she and her husband received stays available to all, Fay made the profound decision to leave a gift in her Will to Chris O’Brien Lifehouse. We are deeply grateful to Fay for her incredible support and generosity.
If Fay’s story has inspired you to think about your own legacy, we invite you to consider leaving a gift in your Will to help improve the lives of people with cancer.
Chris O’Brien Lifehouse has partnered with Safewill, Australia’s leading online Will platform. From September 2-8, Safewill is inviting our supporters to write a legally-valid Will for free using their secure online platform. For more information, please contact Lynn Johnson at lynn.johnson@lh.org.au or 02 8514 0924.
Fay’s beautifully designed knitting pattern quickly became a cherished part of our community. Ten years later, her original pattern is still used by patients in our Arterie program.
Although Fay is now cancer-free, her connection to Chris O’Brien Lifehouse sadly extends beyond her own experience. Her husband Jim was diagnosed with lymphoma and also received treatment at Chris O’Brien Lifehouse before passing away in 2021.
“Throughout our visits, both Jim and I found comfort in the warmth and support of the staff,” Fay says. “Small acts of kindness, like receiving a warm knitted blanket on a cold day, the CEO’s visits during treatment, access to specialist nurses, and engaging in projects with the Arterie girls, all meant so much to us. Chris O'Brien Lifehouse is a place no one wants to come to. But if you do, the treatment and support is amazing.”
Volunteering and supporting charities has always been central to Fay and Jim’s lives, and they wanted to create a legacy that continued their commitment to helping others. To ensure that the compassionate care she and her husband received stays available to all, Fay made the profound decision to leave a gift in her Will to Chris O’Brien Lifehouse. We are deeply grateful to Fay for her incredible support and generosity.
If Fay’s story has inspired you to think about your own legacy, we invite you to consider leaving a gift in your Will to help improve the lives of people with cancer.
Chris O’Brien Lifehouse has partnered with Safewill, Australia’s leading online Will platform. From September 2-8, Safewill is inviting our supporters to write a legally-valid Will for free using their secure online platform. For more information, please contact Lynn Johnson at lynn.johnson@lh.org.au or 02 8514 0924.
