Jane McGrath |
Jane Louise McGrath (nee Steele), was born May 4, 1966 and passed away June 22, 2008 (aged 42) in her Cronulla home in New South Wales, Australia.
Known as a devoted Cancer support campaigner and for her marriage to Australian cricket fast bowler Glenn McGrath.
McGrath was born on 4 May 1966 to Jen and Roy Steele, a newsagent in Paignton, Devon, England. She worked as a flight attendant for Virgin Atlantic Airways when she met her future husband in a Hong Kong nightclub in 1995. They married in 1999 and had two children, James and Holly.
McGrath became an Australian citizen on Australia Day, 26 January 2002. McGrath was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) on 26 January 2008 "for service to community health through support for women with breast cancer and the establishment of the McGrath Foundation."
McGrath first learned she had breast cancer in 1997 at the age of 31. Following a mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiotherapy she was deemed cancer-free by June 1998. Despite fears that cancer treatment may have left her sterile, she later gave birth to two children who were both breast-fed.
In 2003 bone cancer was diagnosed but again went into remission. In 2004 she appeared with her husband on Andrew Dentons Enough Rope on the ABC, describing her work for the foundation and her personal experiences.
In early 2006 brain cancer was detected and by May she was undergoing radiation treatment at three-weekly intervals. The brain tumour was found and successfully removed. At the time she lost her hair and succumbed to depression, but again went into remission and continued her work with the foundation.
She became severely ill in mid June 2008 and died on the morning of June 22 at the age of 42 at her Cronulla home. She is survived by her husband Glenn and children James, 8, and Holly, 6.
In 2002 the McGraths founded the McGrath Foundation, a charitable organisation dedicated to raising money to fund more Breast Care Nurses in rural and regional Australia and educate young women to become breast aware.
The foundation has so far raised over $12 million and, in the days since McGraths death, over $200,000 has been donated.
❊ Web Links ❊
➼ Jane McGrath
➼ www.en.wikipedia.org
➼ www.mcgrathfoundation.com.au
❊ Also See.. ❊
➼ McGrath Foundation
Update Page
