Brave cancer campaigner's legacy lives on through touching project

When A Current Affair was first introduced to Jemma Juckes in 2024, she was a passionate young wife and stepmother, leading a life of travel, love and laughs.

Jemma was making plans to grow her family and her pizza shop business when she was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. 

Her last chance at life was an expensive drug, not yet on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme that would set her back $20,000 per month.

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So to pay for it, Jemma sold her pizza shop, while her community of Glenorie in Sydney's north-west rallied around her, raising money any way they could.

A Current Affair viewers were so touched by Jem's story they helped raise $100,000 in one night. In the weeks that followed, just over $270,000 was raised.

"Our mind is still blown, we are so grateful to every single person who donated or shared, it was the biggest act of kindness that I've ever experienced," Jemma's sister Elise said.

While she never stopped campaigning for the drug to be added to the PBS for others, Jemma didn't win her cancer fight.

Two days after she died, the drug she bravely fought to have listed for government subsidy was approved.

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But Jemma's legacy is spreading even further, with the funds raised for her treatment journey now going to help others.

Money raised has helped pay for refurbishments at Chris O'Brien Lifehouse in Sydney, as well as establishing Jem's Project, through Rare Cancers Australia.

Together they've launched a website and a wellness journal sprinkled with touches of Jemma, acting as a patient guide through the rough days of treatment.

There's also small grants available for cancer patients.

"We thought what a perfect opportunity, she'd done a lot of research having a rare cancer on different things that she could do to make herself feel better - sort of mind,body and spirit if you will," Elise said.

Watch the full video in the player above.