‘We did it’: Samuel Johnson reveals staggering amount raised by charity

After Samuel Johnson’s sister Connie was diagnosed with terminal cancer the actor put everything to fulfil a promise to her. Now, he’s done it.

Samuel Johnson’s charity Love Your Sister has raised a staggering $10 million, the actor has confirmed.

In a Facebook post, Johnson — who retired from acting in 2016 to focus on fundraising alongside his cancer-stricken sister Connie — shared with the charity’s followers that he had reached the siblings’ goal.

Connie died in 2017 after being diagnosed with terminal breast cancer at age 33.

Before her death Johnson had promised Connie he would raise $10 million for cancer research by 2020, something he confirmed Love Your Sister had achieved on Saturday night.

Samuel Johnson revealed the charity he set up with his late-sister Connie had reached an exciting milestone. Picture: Facebook / Love Your Sister

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“We did it. Promise kept. Thank you,” Johnson wrote. “This last 7 years was an apprenticeship. I’m just getting warmed up. Wait till you see what I’ve got for us next.”

Love Your Sister’s followers heaped praise on Johnson, telling the actor Connie was “shining down so very brightly on you”.

“You’re a remarkable human Sam … The fact that you are so humble you would never take credit, only makes you more loveable,” one person wrote.

“Wow absolutely gobsmacked Sam you and your village have done an amazing job,” another commented. “One that you should all be very proud of. Connie is looking down on you and she would be super proud.”

Johnson also shared a video on YouTube in which he sculled a guava vodka cruiser — Connie’s favourite drink — with a crowd of Love Your Sister supporters as he celebrated raising $10 million.

“Connie, we f***ing did it love,” Johnson said as he raised the bottle in the air.

The Gold Logie winner acknowledged that while he often got a lot of credit for the charity, it had been a slow grassroots process.

He estimated that he had visited around 1100 communities doing charitable work in his sister’s name in the last seven years.

Samuel Johnson with Connie in 2017. Picture: Facebook / Love Your Sister

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“How is this $10 million being built I ask you? I don’t have 10 million, I didn’t pull out my card, it’s people like you that got us there,” Johnson said.

“We have enjoyed no large corporate support, we enjoy no federal funding, OK. We have reached this $10 million in small increments, in an honest way, town to town, we’re finally there.”

Love Your Sister was founded in 2012 by the Johnson siblings after Connie dared her actor brother to unicycle around Australia to raise funds and awareness about breast cancer.

In 2017, Love Your Sister received millions of five cent coins which they used to build a giant silver heart.

The project raised more than $2.2 million alone for the Garvan Institute of Medical Research.

Earlier this year Johnson briefly returned to the spotlight to compete on Dancing With The Stars.

I rode around the country for Connie. On Sunday I run for Paul.I haven’t trained, I haven’t eaten the right stuff, I’ve...

Posted by Love Your Sister on Wednesday, 29 June 2016

The actor took out the top prize after overwhelming fan support, winning a $50,000 donation.

Johnson is now on a two year caravan cruise visiting towns across Australia to raise more funds and meet with cancer patients.

He told the Courier-Mail earlier this month he was reminded by his sister in every visit.

“I feel her everywhere and I meet so many people who have been through her pain” Johnson said.

“Every time I chat with a cancer patient I share the same thing that I had with my sister, because it’s the cancer that unites us.”