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<\/p>\nMUCH-LOVED actor and breast cancer crusader Samuel Johnson will return to his old stomping ground tomorrow when he arrives in Geelong for a three-day fundraising tour.<\/p>\n
Johnson, a former Deakin University student, will be selling his latest book titled Dear Mum at special Mother\u2019s Day stalls around the region and will also attend a fundraiser at The Warehouse Geelong on Friday night.<\/p>\n
The Gold Logie winner said he was excited to spend some time in the region.<\/p>\n
\u201cGeelong and surrounds have been far too kind to me over the years,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was a ratbag student at Deakin for a bit, and I love a regular game of golf with my mate Dion from Print Design Australia in Geelong.\u201d<\/p>\n
Johnson, the 2018 Victorian Australian of the Year, has raised more than $13 million in honour of his sister, Connie, who sadly lost her long battle with breast cancer at age 40.<\/p>\n
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Johnson\u2019s Love Your Sister charity passes on 100 per cent of donations and describes itself as \u201cAustralia\u2019s hardest working cancer vanquishing charity\u201d.<\/p>\n
During the COVID lockdown, Johnson began collecting letters to mums written by notable Australians and he said the resulting book is a celebration of mums everywhere.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a beaut little collection,\u201d he said of Dear Mum.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt doesn\u2019t just celebrate mums \u2013 it helps vanquish cancer also. Because families matter and at the centre of families is mums.\u201d<\/p>\n
When asked if any of the letters struck a particular chord with him, Johnson was quick to nominate actor Guy Pearce\u2019s heartfelt tribute to his mum.<\/p>\n
\u201cGuy\u2019s letter stands out for mine, but maybe I\u2019m just a sucker for heartbreak,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
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\u201cHis is a beautiful testimony to his mum who has been lost to dementia for 20 years now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Johnson has worked tirelessly to fundraise for LYS and said he was overwhelmed with gratitude for the support he receives from the community.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m working on revolutionising how cancer patients are treated in Australia and intend on helping usher in a new era of personalised treatment for all,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve raised $13.42m \u2026 unfortunately, cancer treats our millions with contempt and there\u2019s much more to do.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve digested many thousands of personal cancer stories and it serves as both fuel and inspiration for me.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe more people I meet, the more determined I become and the harder I work.<\/p>\n
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\u201cCancer never rests, so I\u2019ll stop when it stops.\u201d<\/p>\n
Johnson encouraged people to visit a Mother\u2019s Day stall, buy a book and maybe get a cheeky selfie.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf people visit our Mother\u2019s Day Market Stall they\u2019ll find fun,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cCancer won\u2019t take our joy, we make sure of that, which is why this is the best part of my job.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll have my Mirrorball Trophy (Dancing with The Stars) and my Gold Logie on hand for anyone that wants a selfie with the hardware.<\/p>\n
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\u201cBring your mum, I\u2019d love to meet her!\u201d<\/p>\n
The stall will be at East Geelong Discount Drug Store tomorrow (Friday, April 23) from 11.30am to 1pm. On Saturday it moves to Leopold Library from 10am to 11.30am and Amcal Pharmacy Geelong West from 1pm to 2.30pm, and at\u00a0Big 4 Bellarine Holiday Park from 4.30pm to 5.30pm.<\/p>\n
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MUCH-LOVED actor and breast cancer crusader Samuel Johnson will return to his old stomping ground tomorrow when he arrives in Geelong for a three-day fundraising tour. Johnson, a former Deakin University student, will be selling his latest book titled Dear Mum at special Mother\u2019s Day stalls around the region and will also attend a fundraiser […]<\/p>\n