Meet Ellie
Ellie’s Journey from chemotherapy to community:
Join her in the Sea of Pink
“When you’re 31 years old and you’re telling your family and friends, ‘I have breast cancer’, it’s bizarre. It’s terrifying.”
Just days after celebrating her birthday—and a week before jetting off to Europe—Ellie’s world was turned upside down. The diagnosis: Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC), one of the most aggressive forms of breast cancer.
She’d found a lump by accident. Three weeks later, she got it checked. That decision may have saved her life.
Despite living a fit, healthy lifestyle, Ellie’s family history carried a silent threat. Genetic testing revealed she carried the BRCA1 gene mutation, increasing her risk of developing both breast and ovarian cancers. Her father’s sisters had both passed from breast cancer. Now, it was her turn to fight.
“When I heard the diagnosis, I just thought, ‘no, this isn’t happening to me’.”
In just one week, Ellie went from planning a holiday to planning chemotherapy. She met with surgeons, cancelled travel plans, and grappled with the most heartbreaking question of all: How do I protect my future family?
Six months of gruelling chemotherapy followed. Then, Ellie made the brave decision to undergo a double mastectomy.
“That was a really hard decision for me. But anxiety of having the breast cancer come back just wasn’t worth it for our family,” she reflects.
Ellie’s story is not just about treatment—it’s about hope, action and community. She wants others to know: breast cancer doesn’t wait for the ‘right time’, and it doesn’t care how old you are.
“I never thought this would happen to me, let alone at such a young age. If you have a family history, get tested. You are never too young to start checking your breasts,” Ellie advocates.
When Ellie was nearing the end of her chemotherapy, she signed up for the International Women’s Day Fun Run presented by QLD X-ray. The event fell in a narrow window—after her final chemo but before her surgery. She hoped to walk the 5k. But her body had other plans.
Instead of joining the Sea of Pink, Ellie watched from her hospital window as thousands walked past in solidarity.
This year, Ellie is determined to be a part of it.
You can be part of the story
Mater Chicks in Pink exists so that no woman has to face breast cancer alone.
By fundraising for Fun Run, you empower young women like Ellie.
Join the Sea of Pink on 8 March and start fundraising today.
Together, we can make a difference—one story, one woman, one life at a time.
