When Steve was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in July 2024, the news came suddenly. In the weeks leading up to his diagnosis, he experienced rapid and unexplained weight loss before becoming jaundiced. Until then, everything had seemed normal.
“Before these symptoms, nothing out of the ordinary presented itself. It’s almost like it happened too quickly to notice any type of warning signs,” Sam explained.
“Years ago, he had an infection from antibiotics that affected his liver, so we thought it was just that again. When his blood test results came back, he had to pack a bag and go to Canberra hospital immediately.”
All Sam and her family knew was the fact that their father had the ‘bad cancer,’ or as she described it, ‘not the cancer you want if you have the choice.’ Like many Australians, Sam and Steve knew very little about pancreatic cancer or how it develops. The diagnosis left them feeling unprepared for what lay ahead.
For those who knew Steve with his jet black hair, tanned skin and quiet yet impactful spirit, knew him as a ‘top bloke’ and a ‘good man.’ He was well known in his community, respected and above all, loved. He lived a life of the provider, a farmer who worked, so his family never went without. He was active, played many sports and enjoyed the occasional beer, while he sat and listened to his friends and family.
“He adored his two granddaughters, as well, doting on them and never saying no. He showed us what it meant to show up for all aspects of life.” Sam said.
That spirit, his generosity, his dedication to family and his willingness to work hard made the diagnosis even harder to comprehend. Sam now wishes she, and others around her, had known more about the early signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer.
For 13 months, Steve lived with pancreatic cancer before passing in September 2025. During that time there were countless hospital stays, illness, infections and difficult side effects.
Steve continued to face each day with quiet determination. He focused on living each day as well as he could, and rarely complained.
“In the end, when treatment was no longer helping and it stopped, once he felt a bit better he went back to the farm every day. He worked hard, kept providing, and approached each day with courage,” she said.
When Steve was diagnosed, Sam says the people around her stepped up in extraordinary ways. Friends, family and the wider community offered support wherever they could.
“I have everything crossed that this study will not only raise awareness, but help create a clear action plan to detect pancreatic cancer earlier.
That support continued to grow when Sam and her brother, Adam decided to run the 2025 HOKA Sydney Marathon in support of Pankind, raising funds to help improve outcomes for people affected by pancreatic cancer.
With the backing of their incredible community, they raised an extraordinary $15,000.
In 2026, Sam will take on an even bigger challenge, running the New York Marathon, once again fundraising for Pankind and pancreatic cancer research.
Sam says she feels incredibly proud, not only of what she and her brother have achieved, but of the community that has stood behind them.
“To be raising awareness and funds for a charity whose whole purpose is helping people like my dad and their families means so much. It might feel like a small part, but I’m proud to be doing it.”
“Running is hard, but not as hard as living with an aggressive terminal cancer. In his honour, I want to push through the temporary pain to recognise how much he endured.”
Stories like Steve’s remind us why progress in pancreatic cancer research is so urgent. Together, through awareness, community action and research, we can work towards a future where pancreatic cancer is no longer such a devastating diagnosis.
