A Dad’s Legacy to Make his Family Proud
When young Brisbane father Jake Simpson was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma, an aggressive head and neck cancer, his wife Carly Mulheran and toddler Noah were foremost in his mind. But the 22-year-old was also determined to leave a legacy.
“Jake made the decision that he wanted his life to mean something, so he chose to donate a gift in his will to the RBWH Foundation for research,” explained Carly.
In 2017, less than a year after becoming ill, Jake passed away. Hoping to improve survival rates for other young patients, Jake left $20,000 to the RBWH Head and Neck Cancer Team, led by Senior Radiation Oncologist Professor Liz Kenny AO.
Ms Mulheran met with Professor Kenny and ensured son Noah was by her side.
“Noah knows about his dad, he knows what he went through, and he knows what cancer he had,” said Carly.
“It means everything that Noah is part of this because it means that his dad meant something.”
RBWH Foundation CEO Simone Garske said Jake’s extraordinary legacy had helped develop a screening test using saliva to detect mouth and throat cancers early. It has aptly been named the SPIT trial.
The June 2022 breast scaffold surgery proved HBI is living up to its ambitious vision. While most biofabrication concepts take about 14 years to progress from drawing board to operating table, the breast scaffold took six.
There is no doubt that Jake’s extraordinary generosity will help save lives in the future
Noah and his mum, Carly, can rightly consider Jake a true hero for this selfless gift.
- Ms Garske.
If you would like to discuss leaving a gift in your will, call the RBWH Foundation on 1300 363 786 or email legacy@rbwhfoundation.com.au.
