Strong-minded, stubborn and driven are the words Samuel Johnson uses to describe the spirit of his late sister Connie.
With photographs of the siblings lovingly scattered around his home in country Victoria, Sam tells New Idea that Connie is never far from his thoughts.
"I've got two forever roses made of paper. I keep one of them in my study and one of them in my kitchen so that I can see her every day," says Sam, 44.
The siblings captured the hearts of the nation in 2014 when Sam rode a unicycle an incredible 15,955km over 364 days - the world's longest unicycle journey - to raise over a million dollars for cancer services.
Two years prior, Sam and Connie created Love Your Sister, a charity committed to 'vanquishing cancer' and set a lofty goal - to raise $10 million to fund vital research.
CONNIE'S COURAGE
Heartbreakingly, Connie, a beloved mother of two, lost her battle with cancer in September 2017, but not before raising more than $5 million for cancer research and being awarded an OAM. This month marks five years since Connie's passing.
"Time doesn't heal all wounds, but it does provide some Band-Aids after a while," says Sam, uncle to Connie's boys, Willoughby, and Hamilton.
"She wanted nothing more than to see those kids through, and then cancer interrupted that. But not before she'd done a great job with those kids."
"She was a great mum."
Five years on, Sam has kept his vow to Connie, raising $16 million to date. He has grand plans to double that number.
Denne historien er fra September 12, 2022-utgaven av New Idea.
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Denne historien er fra September 12, 2022-utgaven av New Idea.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
CLOWNING AROUND!
THE GAGLIARDIES PUT THE FUN IN FAMILY
FIGHTS FOR HER JOB!
HER NEW ROLE RUFFLED SOME FEATHERS
'WE'RE ONE AND DONE'
THE WILDLIFE WARRIOR SHARES SOME FAMILY NEWS
CURSE OF DREAMWORLD strikes AGAIN
THE GOLD COAST PARK IS FACING ANOTHER SCANDAL
Seeing RED
SIX RELATIONSHIP RED FLAGS TO BE WARY OF, ACCORDING TO LAWYER CAROLYN DEVRIES
'MUM SAVED THE DAY!'
THEY PAIR ARE SET TO HAVE AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE!
WE THOUGHT WE'D LOSE HIM'
A SIMPLE VIRUS SAW LITTLE RYAN LOSE BOTH HIS LEGS
Getting so ber made me a better man'
Settling in for a candid chat on the porch of his family’s sprawling 100-year-old farmhouse, James Blundell breaks into a warm smile.
Prince Christian's ON ROYAL DUTY!
Denmark’s Crown Prince Christian has enjoyed his first solo royal engagement abroad at the Paris 2024 Paralympics!
3 great ways with DOUGHNUTS
CREATIVE TAKES ON THIS ICONIC SWEET TREAT