ABOUT our KNIP AMBASSADORS

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Q: Can you tell us a little about yourself?  

I’m Kelly, I’m a wife, mother to 4 and I work in the film industry.  I’ve published a book a few years ago. 

Q: What inspired you to become an ambassador for the Breast Cancer Foundation Fundraiser? 

I am an Ambassador for NBCF – as that organisation aligns with my desire for more breast cancer research.   KNIP is a huge local movement, and I thought it would be a great chance to raise a lot of money for breast cancer research, as well as raise awareness with the local community.   

Coming from generational breast cancer, I want more research done to find more strains of breast cancer, more research to improve outcome for Stage 4 breast cancer patients.  I want more research done to hit the zero deaths by breast cancer goal. 

Q: How has your experience with breast cancer shaped your perspective on life?  

I think I’m still working through how it’s shaped my perspective, but I know that it has had a profound impact on my life.    My grandmother and mother both died from breast cancer.  So breast cancer has been impacting my life well before my own diagnosis.

Q: What do you enjoy doing when you're not working with the foundation? 

I go to the gym which is part of my ongoing oncology plan, I hit golf balls (badly) every now and then.  I spend a lot of time with my family.  I’m a foodie, so love eating out, weekends away and travel.

Q: How do you stay positive through difficult times?   

I tell myself that life is fluid, and where I am in 12 months won’t be the same place I am in now.  I repeat it to myself over and over during those tough moments.  And I focus on my family, as they are the most important thing to me.  I focus on them.   Sometimes, however, I let myself fall apart - you don’t always have to be positive.  It’s okay to say “you know, this is really crap”.  And then I pick myself up.   

Q: What message would you like to share with others going through breast cancer or supporting a loved one through it?  

Life is fluid, where you are in 12 months won’t be the same place you’re in now.  Focus on all the things you love in life and keep that in your thoughts.  

If you are supporting someone through breast cancer, don’t tell them “they’ve got this”.  Don’t tell them “they’re strong.”   Tell them you love them, you’re there for them no matter what they need.    Tell them you’ll sit in the darkness with them.     

Q: What does KNIP mean to you personally? How has it impacted your life?

What started as something for me to raise money for breast cancer research has become so much more.  It’s even bigger than a pink sisterhood.  

It’s a sisterhood of amazing, inspiring women, who have united for this cause – some have breast cancer, some do not, some run businesses, some do not – a group of all different women (and a few men) who have banded together and formed the most amazing sisterhood united with the same goal of raising as much money, and awareness for breast cancer.     “In unity, there is strength” - Aesop

As Ambassadors, we get contacted regularly by women going through breast cancer. We are often their first call. They are aware of our journeys so reach out to us first. We support them, check in on them and try to help them.  In essence, KNIP has also created a safe place for women with early diagnosis to land and provide them with someone who understands what they are going through - and can help them navigate the complicated landscape. 

Hi my name is Liz or if I'm in trouble with my mother Elizabeth. I moved to Sydney from Dublin, Ireland in 1998. I have 2 beautiful children and a patient partner Ryan who has been by my side for the past 21 years. I worked in the Fine Dining industry for most of my early career which led me into a career in the Wine industry, so for the past 20 years I have been working as a Personal Wine Advisor. 

What inspired you to become a KNIP ambassador?

In June 2023 I was diagnosed with HER2 Positive Breast Cancer. It all happened very quickly, one minute I was having a mammogram and ultrasound the next I was being operated on, I had a 4cm lump removed and 30 of my lymph nodes. I call this time "like walking through the Moors", it's just a haze of information that seems to envelop you! I was told I was then going to have 4 rounds of AC Chemo, when that was finished an additional 12 rounds of Taxol Chemo and 17 rounds of Herceptin and Pertuzumab and 5 weeks of radiation. 

Around the same time one of our other ambassadors Kylie took the very brave approach of documenting on social media every step of her journey and it gave me something to reference. I can't tell you how much this helped me and how generous Kylie was with her time even when she was at rock bottom herself. So this year I would like to give back and be there for anyone who needs to know they are not alone. Our door is always open, our hands are ready to hold, our ears are on to listen and with a group of women like us we are not short of words to help.

I also wanted people to know what their donations were contributing to. Some drugs I have received during my treatment have only been developed in recent times and have drastically improved success rates for not just my cancer but all cancers. If it was not for groups like KNIP and the money they raise, drugs like these would not be around or would still be in a development stage. It's not just the treatments but also the medicines that help us get through these treatments. Pain medication, anti nausea, alternative and holistic medications that allow us to get to the end of our treatments that in recent times people could not even get to finish because it was so hard on their system. Every dollar counts!

How has your experience with BC shaped your on life?

When I was diagnosed I sat down and thought to myself  "what have I got to learn from this". In the early rounds of AC when you can't get out of bed I listened to a lot of mindful audio books, I realised how lucky I was. Lucky that I had the support I had, lucky that I lived in this amazing country and had the medical system we have. 

Lucky that my medical team was positive about my journey (even if it was just going to be a long road). I knew I had to be thankful for what I had in order to take on this battle and so this changed my outlook on life. I would like to think I am more patient now. I find it easier to let things go or maybe be able to react in a calmer way than I did pre cancer. I think my journey has given me the humility I thought I had beforehand. I also know that out of bad things good things come, you have to know the lows to enjoy the highs. It has also impacted the way I live my life, I now exercise everyday, I like to look around and I am grateful for the life I have. The sun is shining, my kids are laughing. I have family members who had not spoken to me in 12 years and that I am now in regular contact with. I can still enjoy a glass of wine!

What do you enjoy doing when you're not working with the foundation,

I come from a family of foodies so everything revolves around food, also working in the Wine industry is insatiable. We cook, seek out good produce, what's new and enjoy finding new places to eat. We like to get out and enjoy this beautiful country of ours, so we take to the road and enjoy everything from camping to sailing. I enjoy volunteering at our local football club, It is great to feel part of this community and important for your mental health to get out and interact with all walks of life. As I mentioned above exercise is very important for me now, having had 30 Lymph nodes removed I need to keep the fluid in my body moving so I enjoy Pilates classes with my daughter and have found the gym a place to test myself. Little by little you start to regain your life and hopefully for the better, leaving the past behind.  

How do you stay positive through this difficult time? 

You know there is always someone that is worse off than you. I like to reflect on the things I have to be grateful for, I don't live on the street, I am not starving, I don't live in a war torn country. I look at all the things I have gained from this journey, family, friends and the strength they have given me. 

Life is not supposed to be easy, some times are harder than you have known before but if you allow yourself to be positive you can learn from them and hopefully grow, again I'm not saying it's easy, but if you can find a positive place to park it I think you can get through and hopefully learn. Of course there are going to be times when you feel at rock bottom, but you pick yourself up and look around at all the good stuff and focus on that. Don't forget to laugh and treat yourself if you can, drink that nice bottle of wine you have been keeping. We have a saying in Ireland "ÿou can't take it with you"!

What would you like to share with others going through BC or those supporting them?

Medicine is always getting better and hopefully there is light at the end of the tunnel. Seek out what works for you. I found a holistic approach where it was possible was enormous for me, with all the drugs that I had being pumped through me, it was good to have my naturopath to help me get back on track with what I could control. 

You need to speak with your medical team before introducing something holistic into your diet, but I found alternate ways to combat some side effects and it gave a little sense of control. Try and get out for a little walk, exercise is so important and I know you think but how am I even going to get out of bed!  Even a walk to the top of your driveway and back can help. Sit in the sun for 10 minutes. Allow yourself to cry when you need to cry, listen to your body and appreciate what you have. Most of all, believe in the fact that you are stronger than you know.

For those family and friends who have just found out and want to help, buy a raffle ticket or make a donation here. I found that in the beginning your friends want you to know that they are thinking of you and so they drop flowers round to you, my house was like a flower shop. I would like to tell anyone who wants to show their support for you to make a donation or that is not possible for them, maybe make meals for them, a Spag Bol or a soup. 

What does KNIP mean to you personally? How has it helped you?

Last year when I went to the KNIP event I was blown away to be in the company of so many amazing and strong women. 

There were 250 of us in the one room who were there for either someone close to them, someone they wanted to remember and some of us like me that it was all new to. 

I felt this overwhelming sense of I'm not alone and there are people like KNIP who go above and beyond to make it better in the future and are trying to do what they can to help. KNIP put me in contact with people I could go to for advice, advice like remember to start applying you MOO GOO from day one, it is so important to look after your skin. Being able to discuss what has worked different people like alternative remedies to get through the nausea and that if I need to talk or a shoulder cry on there was someone who knew exactly how I felt. 

It was also great to be able to involve my family and friends who wanted to help so much but didn't know how to, they also found some to talk to and advice they didn't know would help. KNIP educated me and in things I could pass on to not only people in my position but also younger women. 

Kelly taught me to always check your breast at the same time every month and not a week either side of your cycle, always ask for an ultrasound when you go for a mammogram and that everyone's journey is their own. Deborah gave me hope that someone with the same type of cancer as me could go on to live a full happy and healthy life when all this crap was done!!!

Thank you for your support, Liz xx