Press Release: Stuff (digital)
Jemima raises $650,000 for cancer research, but her legacy is much more than money
Written by Piers Fuller and published on Stuff (digital) on October 22, 2021.
With a boost from a TV show prop auction on the last day, Jemima Gazley’s brain cancer fundraisers collectively reached around $650,000.
Yet, the legacy left by the 15-year-old, who died last week, is so much more.
Jemima’s dad Oliver Gazley said it was great to see such a large amount of money raised, but it was the way she touched so many people that was inspiring.
“To get to where we are today is testament to my daughter’s ideas, her vulnerability, and her passion behind trying to raise awareness for this awful disease, which has unfortunately taken her life.”
Jemima’s Wish Givealittle page was at just over $633,000 at 5pm in its final hours on Friday.
The 24-hour Wellington Paranormal memorabilia auction, which closed at 3pm on Friday, generated an additional $15,648.
When she set off on the fundraising journey three weeks ago, they hoped they might get to $20,000.
“I think she’d been pretty mind-blown to be honest. None of us expected it to get to where it was,” Oliver Gazley said.
Jemima also donated her brain tissue to the researchers, which epitomised her willingness to give everything for the cause.
Oliver Gazley said lead researcher Dr Matt Dun, of Newcastle University in Sydney, told the family that this donation was more valuable than any monetary donation.
“For a 15-year-old girl to make those decisions and committing to make that happen and donate that, again just shows what an incredible girl she was. “I think any adult would struggle to come to terms with that,” he said.
In her final weeks, she made a huge emotional and heartfelt impact people in New Zealand and around the world who heard her story.
“That’s what we’ve been so touched by. The money’s great and we never thought we would get where we are today, but just the comments and what people have said about her and the hearts that she’s touched for us is the legacy as well.”
Understandably, the family was doing “pretty bad” in wake of her death, but they were determined to forge ahead with her mission.“We’re desperate to talk about this. We want to find a cure for this. We don’t want other families to have to go through this.
“This has been Jemima’s wish that we try and find a cure, or a better treatment at least.” Oliver Gazley said Jemima led the family in the project and they were just fulfilling her final dream.“She is the Gazley who is responsible for all of this, and we’re so proud and so sad at same time.”
