Australia has lost another wonderful woman to breast cancer with the passing of Jane McGrath, wife of ex-Australian Test Cricketer Glenn McGrath and mother to James and Holly, this morning.

Image courtesy of news.com.au

This news is just devastating to us Aussies who have watched Jane’s long battle with cancer over the last 11 years, and been amazed at her courage, dignity and will to live. Not only was she beautiful, but she was articulate, funny, and a tremendous example of humility and concern for others.

Her compassion for others was exemplified by the founding  of the McGrath Foundation which had two clear aims  “to raise money to place McGrath Breast Care Nurses in hospitals throughout rural and regional Australia as well as educating young women to become ‘breast aware’. ”

The Foundation has no doubt brought comfort to many, and saved other lives through early detection of breast cancer and is a tribute to Jane’s tenacity and determination to beat the disease not only for herself, but all mothers, sisters, aunts, and daughters.

If you don’t do anything else today, do one thing. Go here and pay tribute to Jane in a way that I believe she and Glenn would want.

RIP Jane, you are an inspiration to us all, and will be sorely and sadly missed.