Kathleen Britten (1920-2019) with her 14th great grandchild
Over the last fifty years, Cure Cancer has had the opportunity to meet so many incredible people who have supported us and helped our organisation grow.
We were saddened to hear of the recent loss of Kathleen Britten, a long-time Cure Cancer fundraiser who raised an inspiring $103,520 to fund vital and innovative cancer research.
We share a touching eulogy prepared by her family:
"For approximately 30 years, Kathleen Britten organised and ran a stall at the monthly Gunnedah markets to support Cure Cancer. She and her band of helpers raised over $100,000 to support cancer research from the sale of plants, fruit, scones, bric-a-brac, second-hand books and jewellery.
Kathleen began raising funds for research after reading a magazine article about a rural child who had leukaemia and the family’s struggle coping with the illness and distance. Always a determined countrywoman, Kathleen believed that charitable work should be done with no thought of personal advancement and shunned any exposure. She and her helpers worked quietly and steadily, and consistently. She was always delighted when visits from family members coincided with the monthly market, as they would be roped in to assist.
Two people helped her from the start: Malcom Cameron (who grew plants) and Nan Heath (who made the scones the stall became famous for). Many others, too numerous to be named here, helped. Kathleen’s ability to persuade people to join her and to motivate them meant that she continued fundraising well into her nineties.
While the sums raised each month were not huge, they arrived regularly at Cure Cancer over so many years that they became significant. Kathleen loved reading about the research being supported in Cure Cancer newsletters and was happy to be a ‘foot-soldier’ in the fight against cancer.”
As a tribute to an inspirational woman, we’re also pleased to announce that Dr Jessica Holien’s grant will be named In Memory of Kathleen Britten.
From everyone at Cure Cancer, we thank Kathleen for her passion and commitment to our organisation. We know that she will truly be missed by many.
