Personal adversity fueling a personal legacy

For Ashburton farmers Allan and Janette Andrews personal adversity, both of them having been deeply affected by cancer, has helped to drive their purpose.

Allan’s older brother, Lyndsay, died from leukaemia and bone marrow cancer at just 21 years of age.  Lyndsay’s death had a profound effect on Allan who was faced with his own challenge when he was diagnosed with acute malignant non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma with bone marrow cancer as a secondary condition in 1988.  At the time, Allan was given a five per cent chance of survival, but with stoic determination he defied the odds and recovered.

In 2010, Janette was then diagnosed with bowel cancer alongside liver cancer as a secondary condition.  At the time Janette recalls travelling to Dunedin for treatment, “I thought to myself, I don’t think I’ll see Ashburton again, but when I woke in the morning and thought yes I will!” After extensive chemotherapy, Janette also made a full recovery.

Allan and Janette have both been actively involved in fundraising for the Cancer Society over the years, since they know firsthand how much support cancer patients need. Their own personal experiences have driven their purpose to create a legacy, which will have an impact on cancer patients throughout their journey.

In 2023 Allan and Janette made a significant donation, covering the cost of over 300 bed nights at Rānui House in Christchurch, for Mid Canterbury cancer patients receiving treatment. The couple have also left a gift in their will to Advance Ashburton Community Foundation, to be invested in their own Named Fund, which will be dedicated to support cancer related causes in Mid Canterbury.

“We know that our money is going to be there forever, to help local people”, said Allan. “We wanted it to stay local as we didn’t want it to get lost in the larger scope of things. It stimulates me to think back over the things we’ve been through with cancer, it stimulated me to write a book and if I see other opportunities to help others, I will do it. Leaving a legacy with Advance Ashburton is part of that”.

Janette agrees, saying, “I think it’s important to help others, we know how hard it can be when people get sick, having been through it ourselves. It makes me feel good to leave a legacy and lend a hand to people, to help to give them the determination to fight.”