Neridah's Story

Neridah was a busy mum, balancing work, raising her young boys, and planning her dream family home. Life was full, happy and busy. A routine mammogram felt like just another thing to tick off the list. 

Then came the call.

“They took me into a room and said they’d found something,” Neridah recalls.

Breast cancer.

“One minute I was talking to the builder about house plans. An hour later, I was told I had cancer.”

In an instant, everything changed. The future she had imagined for her family suddenly felt uncertain. But through the fear and heartbreak, Neridah knew she had to keep fighting. 

Supported by her Mater Cancer Care team, Neridah underwent a double mastectomy and targeted chemotherapy, followed by ongoing hormone therapy. The physical and emotional toll was immense, but the hardest part was seeing the impact on her children.

“They saw me in hospital. I lost my hair just as they started school. It was heartbreaking. You never want your kids to go through that.”

This year, more than 20,000 Australian women will hear the words “you have breast cancer.” 

At Mater Research, Dr. Jodi Saunus and her team are working tirelessly to improve treatments and outcomes for women like Neridah.

“Our research is aimed at finding new drugs that specifically target cancer cells while leaving healthy tissue intact. This could make treatments more effective while greatly reducing the negative side effects that we currently see in patients undergoing chemotherapy. Our goal is personalised treatment for every patient. A solution that stops cancer in its tracks,” says Dr Saunus.

By buying a Mater Cars for Cancer ticket, you’re doing more than entering to win incredible prizes. You’re helping fund vital medical research that gives patients like Neridah hope for the future. Thank you.

Buy Tickets