Samuel and Connie Johnson’s Love Your Sister Foundation, formed after Connie’s terminal breast cancer diagnosis, mobilised communities across Australia and set a world record for the longest distance travelled on a unicycle. Connie died of cancer in 2017 at the age of 40, shortly after receiving a Medal of the Order of Australia for her tireless advocacy and fundraising for breast cancer research. Her grace, humour and determination in her final days deeply moved everyone who knew her story.

Before her passing, Connie worked alongside Samuel to raise awareness and vital funds for breast cancer research, spreading her message of breast awareness and mobilising women across the country. Today, her legacy continues to inspire Love Your Sister, which has grown into a movement of passionate advocates for change.

Though Connie is no longer with us, Samuel has continued to honour her legacy. Together, their efforts have left a lasting impact, and funds raised by Love Your Sister continue to support Garvan’s breast cancer research through the Connie Johnson Breast Cancer Research Lab. 

Connie and Sam’s tenacity, passion and advocacy, as well as the generous support of the Love Your Sister community, have collectively helped to raise over $5 million for Garvan’s research, and for that we are incredibly grateful.

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The Connie Johnson Breast Cancer Research Lab 

The inaugural recipient of the award was Professor Elgene Lim, Head of the Connie Johnson Breast Cancer Research Lab at Garvan. Professor Lim and his team are studying ways to sensitise breast cancer cells to novel therapies using tissue samples donated by patients. By better understanding the unique biology of individual tumours, his team are able to discover more effective ways to treat them.

You can support Professor Lim’s vital work by 

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Samuel and Connie Johnson’s Love Your Sister Foundation has had an incredible impact on breast cancer research.