Inspired by Joyce Swinton’s generosity, this local business has matched her generous donation to cancer care

A Cairns building company has stepped up with a sizeable donation towards the cancer care hub, inspired by 92-year-old donor Joyce Swinton.

A Cairns building business has contributed $250,000 towards the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation’s Cancer Care Hub after being inspired by veteran donor Joyce Swinton’s generosity last week.

Alex Loughton, marketing co-ordinator at Kenfrost Homes, said the company was excited to assist the foundation in reaching their donation mark, which he believed they would reach very soon.

“We were inspired by a story in the Cairns Post. Ms Swinton, bless her heart, donating everything she had,” Mr Loughton said.

“Our boss John was very keen to come on board and match Ms Swinton’s donation and really she led the way. We are following in her footsteps, hopefully encouraging others to donate as well.”

FNQ Hospital Foundation chief executive Gina Hogan said the Kenfrost Homes donation was a very welcome surprise and added significant momentum to the $1.5m fundraising campaign.

Liz Plummer Centre Cancer Care Nurse Unit Manager Jennifer Faulkner, Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation CEO Gina Hogan and Alex Loughton from Kenfrost Homes. Picture: Sandhya Ram

“This comes on the back of the $60,000 that Kenfrost Homes gave us last year for patient Christmas presents and pyjamas and equipment,” Ms Hogan said.

“We launched the Cancer Care Hub campaign three weeks ago, and are now at that 40% mark. We are moved by the generosity of the community.”

One hundred per cent of profits would go towards the cause, which aimed at taking patient care to the next level with more cancer patients receiving treatment locally rather than having to travel south, she said.

Cairns Hospital Liz Plummer Cancer Care Centre nurse unit manager Jennifer Faulkner said the gift “means so much” and that any money really helped in offering better care.

“With a lot of other diseases you don’t see patients a lot but with cancer you go along with the patient on that journey. Patients are part of our family, when they come in they are with us for a long time, anywhere six months to ten years, one of our longest patients,” Ms Faulkner said.

“We are really grateful to Kenfrost for this donation. It means so much to our patients and staff. This money will go towards our redevelopment. We are expanding our pharmacy, adding extra chairs. We have been needing this expansion for a long time. Cancer care ward needs more space.”

Originally published as Inspired by Joyce Swinton’s generosity, this local business has matched her generous donation to cancer care