Raising funds and spirits

Cure Cancer Australia Foundation
Loyal. Empathetic. Giving

Lisa Griessl has raised over $110,000 since 2018 when she came up with a beautiful way to support the Cure Cancer Australia Foundation.

Lisa was inspired to give back to the foundation after surviving an aggressive spinal tumour, diagnosed when her youngest child was only three months old.

In seeking a way to involve local community in her fundraising she established The Big Hug Box initiative in 2018 to raise funds through sales of beautifully curated gift boxes. The boxes are bought by friends and family to gift to loved ones being treated for cancer.

They are filled to the brim with comforting goodies, including organic teas, gourmet biscuits and online meditation sessions.

Lisa, who juggles motherhood and her job with the demands of her non-profit organisation, has also been able to donate over 300 Random Hugs of Kindness boxes to patients at three local hospitals with the support of donors.

One of her most memorable moments was hearing from a patient that the gift box made her feel human again.

Lisa’s latest initiative in collaboration with Cure Cancer is a Buddy Box for children receiving treatment.

She is honoured to be nominated as a Westfield Local Hero. “It reminds me that The Big Box Hug is making a real difference in the lives of patients in the local community. It motivates me to continue my work,” Lisa says.

Westfield Local Heroes are nominated and voted for by their communities, with the three top finalists per Westfield centre each awarded a $10,000 grant for their affiliated organisation. Cure Cancer will use the funds to deliver Random Hugs of Kindness boxes to 142 patients.

For further information on the Westfield Local Heroes program, click here