After helping her mother Gloria through a four-year ovarian cancer experience, Dr Anna Ceguerra realised first-hand the importance of maintaining quality of life throughout cancer treatment. This realisation inspired her to donate her savings to help develop the supportive care service at Chris O’Brien Lifehouse. 

Supportive care encompasses evidence-based therapies that relieve the symptoms and side effects of cancer and treatment and enhance a patient’s quality of life. Supportive care has been proven to significantly improve quality of life, however a lack of awareness of this service can make it difficult for patients to access.

Anna’s incredible gift established the Gloria Vallarta Research Fellowship in Supportive Care and Integrative Oncology, which aimed to address gaps and improve patient access to these vital services.

“It’s a profound act of generosity,” says Dr Judith Lacey, Head of Supportive Care at Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, “Anna and Gloria have helped put the spotlight on what really matters for patients and that’s priceless.”

Dr Anna Ceguerra