Everyone around Elaine was getting cancer, but nothing could've prepared her for this.

Thanks to our brand partner, The Hospital Research Foundation Group

When Elaine Bozanich's sister was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2020, a crushing sense of helplessness consumed her. She found herself thinking: Why us? How was this fair?

While her sister was enduring gruelling treatment, one of her best friends was diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer.

Then, just last year, came another devastating blow: Elaine's husband Jason was diagnosed with oral cancer.

Almost one in two Australians will be diagnosed with cancer by the time they're 85. All of us hope it won't happen to us or our loved ones.

It's why, in 2023, feeling helpless in the face of so much illness, Elaine decided to take action. She hosted her first Longest Table event, gathering friends and family for a night of connection and purpose to raise money for cancer research.

Image: Supplied.

"I had known of friends of friends in the past that had cancer, but I'd never been touched by it like I have been in the last few years," Elaine said.

"It just feels like it's everywhere."

To the lucky ones who haven't come into contact with cancer yet, Elaine's message is simple yet confronting: "It can come out of the blue, and when it happens you want people in your corner."

"You'd like to know that people were doing everything they could to try and find a cure, to find better treatments," she added.

Almost 452 Australians are diagnosed with cancer every day — that's 74 people during the time it takes to host a meal.

By hosting a Longest Table this July or August, you can help fund life-changing cancer research through The Hospital Research Foundation Group. Whether it's a BBQ, a dinner party or takeaway on the couch, every dollar raised helps turn heartbreak into hope.

For Elaine, the first heartbreak was her sister, who endured four years of treatment and managed to stay positive until her death in April last year.

"It was hard as sisters not being able to help her… it's just something that you really can't put into words," Elaine said.

At the same time, one of Elaine's best friends was going through intensive treatment for breast cancer. The weight of watching multiple loved ones battle the disease was becoming unbearable.

Then, six months after her sister's death, came the news that would shatter her world again.

"We found out after my sister passed that (my husband) had cancer," Elaine said.

The timing felt impossibly cruel.

"I just couldn't even get my head around it," she said. "We'd always been very grateful that we hadn't really been touched by cancer in our own little family. And then to lose my sister and then find out that my husband had cancer was pretty intense."

Immediately, her mind began to spiral, assuming the worst outcome would once again repeat itself. Specialists were able to confirm that, of all the oral cancers, her husband's was the one with the best chance of beating it.

Image: Supplied.

"That was kind of a relief, but you still feel like you're in limbo," Elaine said.

Treatment has been rough for the whole family.

"I remember saying to one of my daughters, 'I just don't know what a life without Dad in it looks like'… There's a lot of sad stories that don't end well, and having my sister just pass away, it felt like that was where this was heading."

While Jason hasn't got the "all-clear" just yet, they're hopeful it'll come soon.

Holding it together after so much heartbreak has been challenging.

"Emotionally, I did struggle quite a bit because I'm the sort of person who tries to hold it all together for everyone else," Elaine said.

Eventually, she crumbled under the weight, breaking down when a manager asked how she was doing.

"I just can't believe how much cancer there is around, even in my small world," Elaine reflected.

It's why she's always been passionate about fundraising for cancer.

This year marks her third time hosting a Longest Table event. Her first event was simple: a raffle and dinner at home with her friends and family.

Around her dining table, surrounded by the people who mattered most, there was something magical about coming together with a shared purpose. For the first time in months, instead of feeling powerless against cancer, they were fighting back.

"Everyone was just so into it. Everyone was really happy to be there," she said.

Between the 10 of them, they managed to raise $1000. The following year, she hosted a high tea. This year, she has her sights set on something bigger and is hosting a dinner at her work, The Gosnells Hotel in Perth.

"It just felt like a community spirit working towards a common goal. That's what I really love about the whole thing," she said.

"Everyone's got their own reason for coming… maybe their own losses, but it feels like you're not alone when you're together. A community raising funds together for the benefit of everyone."

When it comes to cancer fundraising, every little bit helps.

"I know times are tough and people are struggling with their own financial situations, but I keep telling everyone, anything you can do, anything you contribute is helpful — even if it's sharing people's events," she said.

"We need a solution so that people don't have to suffer and families don't have to lose loved ones.

"We've come so far with the treatment regimes and the success rates now because of research. And every step is a step closer to a world where we don't have to worry about this monster that's lurking."

Want to do something meaningful? Register to host your own Longest Table online and join a community of Australians fighting cancer.

Feature Image: Supplied.

Host a Longest Table to #ForkCancer. With 1 in 2 Australians affected by cancer in their lifetime, you can make a real difference. This July or August, turn your next brunch, dinner, or gathering into a fundraiser for life-changing cancer research through The Hospital Research Foundation Group.
It's simple to get involved - pick your date, invite your friends, and sign up online. Your support will help fund critical cancer research, improve treatment, and drive breakthroughs that save lives.
Together, we can fight cancer, one meal at a time. Register Today.