Cate Campbell
Cate Campbell is a three time Olympic swimmer and has recently qualifed for her her 4th Olympics in Toyko. Cate competed at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, the London Olympics in 2012 and the Rio Olympics in 2016 coming away with two gold medals, one silver and two bronze. Cate is currently a multiple word record holder and is studying to complete a Bachelor of Communications in 2020.
Cate joined Can Too as an ambassador in 2019. Cate became an Ambassador of Can Too to promote the ocean swim programs. Cate says what she really likes about Can Too "is that they give you the skills to execute the challenge that you've signed up for". One of the reasons Cate is so passionate about promoting Can Too is that she doesn't know how to read the ocean or look for rips or watch for waves. "The work that Can Too Foundation do through all their activity, including the Learn to Ocean Swim program, is just brilliant" she says in her North Shore Times article 'What Lies Beneath' in February, 2020.
In 2018 Cate was diagnosed with stage one melanoma which made her all the more motivated to make a difference. Cate is now a passionate advocate for routine skin checks and skin safety.
Heather Hawkins
Heather Hawkins is a cancer survivor turned endurance runner with an adventurous spirit. Now a mother of two from Coogee NSW, Heather was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2007. Thankfully, Heather was able to access doctors equipped with the kind of breakthrough research the Can Too Foundation funds, and has made a full recovery, using her experience as the catalyst for some truly inspirational life changes.
First, she became a Surf Lifesaver in 2009. Then in 2012, she ran the Mother’s Day Classic 4km Fun Run, the event that sparked her passion for running, and precipitated an ongoing global fitness journey. Heather has since gone on to compete in a range of endurance running events, taking top of the podium on the top of the world as Winner – Women’s Division at the North Pole Marathon earlier this in 2015.
Heather’s next endurance goal was the breath-taking World Marathon Challenge. In 2017 she ran seven marathons, on seven continents, in seven days, ending in her hometown of Sydney, where the Can Too community cheered her across the line in true Can Too spirit.
Melinda Gainsford-Taylor AM
Melinda is arguably Australia’s greatest female sprinter of all time and represented Australia at the Olympics three times.
Having lost her Mum to cancer in 2015, Melinda successfully completed her first marathon after training with Can Too in September of the same year.
“As someone who was used to training for events that were over in seconds, the thought of running a 42km marathon was way out of my comfort zone,” she said.
“Thankfully, Can Too’s running programs are designed to help people of all fitness levels and abilities achieve their fitness goals, and after 20 weeks of Can Too training, I was able to realise my goal of running the Blackmores Sydney Marathon in memory of my dear mum, while raising much needed funds for cancer research. It’s by far one of the most rewarding things that I have ever done,” she said.
Find out more about her journey with Can Too with her letter to her younger self.
Emmy Fleuren
The Can Too Foundation welcomed Cancer Researcher Emmy Fleuren as an Ambassador in 2021.
Originally from the Netherlands, Dr Emmy Fleuren moved to Australia from the United Kingdom in 2019 to join Children’s Cancer Institute. Developing more selective and effective treatments to combat sarcoma in children. The senior scientist is dedicated to helping improve the cure rates for children with sarcoma using therapies that specifically target the tumour cells that are more effective and less likely to cause damaging side effects.
In 2021, Dr Emmy Fleuren swapped her lab coat for a beach towel as she joins Can Too's Autumn swim Program as a participant and ambassador.
Nicola Barr
The Can Too Foundation welcomed GWS GIANT AFL Player Nicola Barr as an Ambassador in 2020.
Nicola has always been a lover of sport and has a passion for encouraging people to get involved in sport not only to stay physicall fit but also for their mental wellbeing. Nicola loves that Can Too is providing an opportunity for people who may not be very versed in sport to train with high level coaches and to raise money for cancer research. She also loves that Can Too is providing support for people to get fit, balance their wellbeing and raise funds.
Nicola has a medical science background and this has encouraged her decision to join forces with Can Too. "It's such a difficult illness to treat and cancer affects a lot of people. I know how important it is to make sure we have funds for research"
