Singer Ella Hooper knows only too well what it is like to have a loved one fight cancer.
Her mother Helen Keighery battled with cancer for several years before succumbing to the disease in January last year.
During much of that battle, the former Killing Heidi singer and now solo artist, put her own life on hold and moved home to Violet Town to be with her mum.
Hooper shared her family’s cancer journey story with the 745 people who attended the GV Health Foundation Ladies Who Lunch event on Sunday, October 29.
She also performed some of her songs at the lunch, with most from her new album Small Town Temple, which she wrote while living back in Violet Town.
Being asked to perform at the event and give back something to women’s cancer health in Shepparton was special for Hooper.
Goulburn Valley Health was where her mother received all of her cancer treatment.
“It sounded so fitting and right (to perform at the lunch),” she said.
“These are the very people who supported our mum and our family in our time of need.
“I’m very grateful to GV Health.”
Hooper spoke of how her mother found a lump in her breast and received cancer treatment a few years ago.
After that, she was “fit and healthy” and in remission for a few years, Hooper said.
But the cancer returned and she was given a terminal diagnosis.
“We hadn’t been thinking of it. We just wanted to put it in the rearview mirror, but perhaps we put it there a bit much,” Hooper said.
Hooper got off the road where she had been touring and moved back to Violet Town.
Her mother’s diagnosis came during the time of COVID-19 lockdowns, and the family had to get special passes that allowed them to go between Violet Town and Shepparton for treatment.
Hooper said a lot of her mother’s care could be done at home.
“Thanks to the GV Health staff that supported us,” she said.