‘Live your life to the absolute max’: Catriona Rowntree’s touching message after her sister’s stage four cancer diagnosis

TV presenter Catriona Rowntree has revealed her heartbreak after discovering her sister Lucinda has been diagnosed with stage four cancer.

Catriona Rowntree with her sister Lucinda Wunderlich.

TV presenter Catriona Rowntree has revealed her heartbreak after discovering her sister Lucinda has been diagnosed with stage four cancer.

On the occasion of her big sister’s birthday, Rowntree posted a touching tribute on Sunday and plea for donations on a GoFundMe page set up to support the family.

Lucinda Wunderlich is a mum of four and a teacher in Sydney but can’t work after starting treatment.

“ … we have recently found out that Lucinda has Stage 4 Cancer, which is apparently incurable,’’ Rowntree wrote.

Catriona Rowntree with sister Lucinda and family.

“I’m trying so hard to choose my words carefully here, other than to say a lot of tears have been shed, BUT Lucinda is fighting and positive. We all are. She has started chemo (sheer hell) and immunotherapy (our bright light) at #royalnorthshorehospital Lucinda is now unable to work as she commits to the fight of her life.

“Her girlfriends have created a #GoFundMe page to ease the household stress and I’ve asked her permission to share this with you. Lucinda is the first to be placed on a new medical trial, that may one day help a loved one of yours. So, if you’d like to donate, thankyou, trust me when I say to live your life to the absolute max, none of us know what each moment holds for us and please say a little prayer for Lucinda tonight. Thankyou.”

Rowntree described her sister as a gem, with the GoFundMe page saying her laughter lights up the room.

So far more than $40k has been raised.

“Lucinda is a true gem,’’ Rowntree wrote.

“Unlike me, growing up Lucinda never caused my parents an ounce of worry (other than liking AC/DC) I’d do anything for her blonde beauty (I remember Dad would cut her hair for years, standing on the laundry step with a ruler placed on her back) her smile and laugh warms everyone’s hearts.

“Lucinda had no boyfriend dramas as she married her first boyfriend! Yep, at 14 Johnno spotted her across a room and said to his mate ‘I’m going to marry that girl!’

“Can you believe that and they’re still madly in love. They travelled the world together, then settled down to raise 4 cheeky children. I, who we love more than words can say. Lucinda and Johnno once had a children’s gift shop they were so talented at buying for little ones.

“Lucinda just adores children and is now a hugely successful, beloved teacher and we can never have too many of those right?”

Rowntree, a mum of two who recently got her pilot’s licence at age 51, was inundated with well wishes for her sister and family.

She shared the GoFundMe donation page.