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- 20 Years Of Keeping A Promise
20 years of keeping a promise
Tracy Bevan, Ambassador and Director
20 years ago, Tracy Bevan sat beside her best friend, Jane McGrath, sharing tears, laughter, and what felt like an impossible dream.
Jane, facing breast cancer, spoke with unwavering hope about a future where every person with breast cancer would have access to the care and compassion of a dedicated breast care nurse. It sounded like a far-off vision – like a “pipe dream”. Tracy made Jane a promise. No matter what happened, she would help make that dream come true.
That promise has become a legacy thanks to the thousands of people across Australia who have got behind the McGrath Foundation over 20 years. “This was Jane’s dream,” says Tracy.
“After years of experiencing cancer, she was finally connected to ‘her angel’, her breast care nurse, Alison Szwajcer. It changed her life in ways she never imagined. From that moment on, she wanted everyone going through this disease to have their own nurse by their side.”
Tracy’s presence is deeply woven into the fabric of the McGrath Foundation, and she treasures the many special memories that have shaped the journey. “Jane and I christened our children together,” Tracy remembers. “We were godmothers to each other’s babies. I have vivid memories from that day. It was such a beautiful Christening, but Jane surprised me with something even more unforgettable. She told me Master Foods had donated a million dollars to the Foundation. That was the moment I knew everything was about to change.”
“Jane would be incredibly proud that we’ve taken our care to all cancers. Through the McGrath Foundation and the incredible support of Australia, we’ve kept Jane’s memory alive.”
- Tracy
Of the many proud milestones, one in particular stands out to Tracy. “Walking into our first office in Northbridge, I’ll never forget it. Jane and I looked at each other, laughed, and said, ‘How did we get here?’ It was one of those pinch-me moments. “And then there was the very first Pink Test. It was incredibly emotional walking through those gates for the first time without Jane.
But looking out over these a of pink and the Jane McGrath Stand it took my breath away. It was overwhelming and beautiful.” When Tracy reflects on these memories, she does so with Jane’s family close to her heart.
“I share every achievement, every milestone, with Jane’s mum and brother, Jon. They have been with me every step of the way, watching the Foundation grow. Nothing brings them more joy than hearing that we’ve reached another milestone or done something remarkable.” Tracy is proud to know that Jane’s legacy lives on through the McGrath Foundation, just as Tracy always hoped it would.
More than 20 years ago, Alison Szwajcer met Jane McGrath. Alison was Jane’s breast care nurse, a humble but unforgettable presence who entered Jane’s life when her cancer returned and metastasised in 2006.
Over the last 20 years, McGrath Cancer Care Nurses have been a lifeline in regional and rural Australia, providing expert care, hope, and support to families during their toughest times.
For Emily Quinlan, who was diagnosed with breast cancer at just 25, having a voice meant having someone she could turn to - someone who was always in her corner.
At the heart of the McGrath Foundation’s extraordinary journey is Kerry Patford, one of the original McGrath Cancer Care Nurses who has since risen to become the Foundation’s Chief Nurse.