Far North residents turn to crowd-funding to afford medical treatment costs

From cancer treatment to travel and accommodation costs, Far North residents have turned to crowd-funding to afford life-changing medical treatment. See the stats.

Far North Queenslanders have raised more than $360,000 through 130 fund-raisers to help their fellow residents receive life-changing medical treatment in the past 12 months, GoFundMe has confirmed.

A whopping 80 per cent of health fundraisers in Far North Queensland are used for patients paying for medical treatment outside the region, it can be revealed.

GoFundMe confirmed the region has raised more than $360,000 through 130 fundraisers to help residents receive life-changing medical treatment in the past 12 months, has confirmed.

A GoFundMe Australia spokesperson said 80 per cent of the funds were primarily used for patients seeking medical treatment, usually outside of the region, and used to cover travel and accommodation expenses.

“In the last year alone, Far North Queenslanders launched 130 fundraisers, collectively raising over $360,000 in support thanks to generous donors,” the spokesperson said.

“This is particularly pertinent in regional areas such as Far North Queensland, with many having to relocate, or travel, to be closer to specialist care centres.”

The Cairns Post launched Critical Condition earlier this year, calling for a lost breast cancer diagnostic service to be reinstated so women didn’t need to travel to avoid significant wait times.

The campaign was won and saw $27m committed towards CQUniversity’s health wing, which is expected to address workforce challenges in the health sector.

Among Far North residents seeking medical treatment is Port Douglas business owner Philip Leahy.

A fund-raiser has been set up to help Port Douglas businessman Philip Leahy cover the cost of travel and accommodation after he underwent intense cancer treatment in Brisbane this year.

Mr Leahy, who runs a medical retail business with his wife Annabel, was diagnosed with throat cancer earlier this year and underwent intense chemotherapy and radiation treatment in Brisbane for eight weeks.

A past colleague set up a fundraiser to help him and his wife cover the cost of travel and accommodation expenses while he received the treatment.

“(The fundraiser) helps your spirits and certainly helps with the bills because there is a bit of a difference being in the Far North as opposed to being in the city,” Mr Leahy said.

“If you stay in the hospital, there’s no shortfall on the cost of treatment, so straight away you save money when you’re an inpatient, but if you’re not staying at the hospital, then you’ve got the cost of going to and from, so Ubers, accommodation, food and the cost of medicine as well.”

Mr Leahy said his wife of five years stayed in Port Douglas to continue running the business, visiting him twice during the two-month treatment period.

Port Douglas businessman Philip Leahy and his wife Annabel Leahy.

“My wife came down for the first five days, then came halfway through it … she’s had to look after the house and business, and she’s been doing a great job,” he said.

“And I’m lucky, I’ve got a great community of support from my old job and some money to cover the bills, but so many people don’t have that, so I really feel for those people.”

According to GoFundMe, 75 per cent of the more than $70m donated to medical fund-raisers in 2024 was raised to cover loss of income due to taking time off work.

On average, more than 30 fund-raisers were launched daily, seeking help to ease the financial stress that accompanied a medical diagnosis.

GoFundMe regional director Nicola Britton said the organisation witnessed the emotional and financial toll a serious diagnosis took on families.

“The fine line between income and out-of-pocket expenses is leaving patients and their families making impossible decisions; a choice between employment and treatment, or being with a loved one during sickness,” Ms Britton said.
“It is heartening to see so many Australians embracing fund-raising tools to help ease the pressure on one another in times of need.”

Wylie Dixon was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer on his appendix, travelling to Sydney for urgent surgery. He has been unable to work since and requires ongoing chemotherapy treatment. His family are fund-raising on Mr Dixon's behalf to help offset the cost of his continuing medical treatment. Picture: Brendan Radke

Thursday Island nurse Melissa Haydock contracted lymphoedema, a chronic condition that causes limb swelling and disrupts normal bodily functions, as a side effect from life-saving cancer treatment.

In recent months, fundraisers have been set up to help Tablelands man Wylie Dixon, who was diagnosed with an aggressive form of appendix cancer, and Thursday Island nurse Melissa Haydock, who needed specialist surgery for cancer treatment complications.

Both Far North residents had to travel interstate to receive specialised medical care, unavailable to them in the Far North.

A Freshwater family has also faced financial strain to cover the cost of cancer treatment while running a small business.

GoFundMe cited the most common costs involved were: time off work, parking fees, interstate travel, out-of-pocket treatment expenses, and covering rent or a mortgage, especially when relocating for treatment.

NSW accounted for the highest number of medical fundraisers at 30 per cent of the total launched in 2024, followed by Queensland and Victoria, accounting for 22 per cent each.

In regional areas, like the Northern Territory and Far North Queensland, medical fundraisers were often launched to ask for help to cover the cost to travel to a different city or interstate to receive treatment.

Originally published as Far North residents turn to crowd-funding to afford medical treatment costs