, alt = , caption = Samuel and Connie Johnson , birth_name = Constance Johnson , birth_date = 1977 , birth_place = , death_date = 8 September 2017 (aged 40) , death_place =

Canberra Canberra ( ) is the capital city of Australia. Founded following the federation of the colonies of Australia as the seat of government for the new nation, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The ci ...

, Australian Capital Territory , nationality = Australian , other_names = , occupation = , years_active = , known_for = {{hlist, Founder of the Love Your Sister charity, Receiving the Medal of the Order of Australia for services to breast cancer research , notable_works = , relatives = {{hlist,

Samuel Johnson Samuel Johnson (18 September 1709 – 13 December 1784), often called Dr Johnson, was an English writer who made lasting contributions as a poet, playwright, essayist, moralist, critic, biographer, editor and lexicographer. The ''Oxford ...

(brother), Hilde Hinton (sister) Constance "Connie" Johnson {{post-nominals, country=AUS, OAM (1977 – 8 September 2017) was an Australian philanthropist. She suffered from bone cancer at age 11, uterine cancer at age 22 and finally breast cancer at age 33. Johnson founded the Love Your Sister charity in 2012 with her brother

, aiming to raise $10 million for cancer research. At the time of her death the charity had raised almost $6 million. She was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia on 7 September 2017 and died the following day, aged 40.

Biography

Johnson was born in 1977 and grew up with older sister Hilde and younger brother Samuel.{{R, "10Q" Their mother committed suicide when Connie was aged 4.{{R, "LYSbook", "loses", chapter=2 She started at a new school almost every year; her father was a writer and moved around a lot so that he could write.{{R, "LYSbook", "record", chapter=1 At the age of 22 she met her husband Mike and in 2001 they moved to

where they ran the Book Lore bookshop in Lyneham together. They married in 2004 and Mike took her name.{{R, "AgeVale" They had two sons; Willoughby in 2006{{R, "D@40" and Hamilton in 2007.{{R, "ConPass" Johnson was first diagnosed with bone cancer in her leg at age 11. At the age of 22, she was diagnosed with uterine cancer. Both tumours were detected early which aided successful treatment. In 2010, at the age of 33, after being misdiagnosed by three doctors, Johnson was told she had breast cancer.{{R, "record" The cancer spread to her lungs, liver, spine, pelvis and knee.{{R, "ConPass", "CJDies" She was given six to twelve months to live. Johnson joined with her brother,

, to start the Love Your Sister charity on New Years day 2012,{{R, "D@40", "BMtrib" and to co-write a book titled ''Love Your Sister: How far would you go for someone you love?'' which was published in November 2016.{{R, "book" In April 2017, she announced that her body could no longer withstand her medications and she was ceasing all treatment, and withdrew from public life shortly afterwards.{{R, "LastHurrah" Johnson was presented with the Medal of the Order of Australia on 7 September 2017, by the

Governor-General Governor-general (plural ''governors-general''), or governor general (plural ''governors general''), is the title of an office-holder. In the context of governors-general and former British colonies, governors-general are appointed as viceroy t ...

Sir Peter Cosgrove General Sir Peter John Cosgrove, (born 28 July 1947) is a retired senior Australian Army officer who served as the 26th governor-general of Australia, in office from 2014 to 2019. A graduate of the Royal Military College, Duntroon, Cosgrove f ...

; for services to people with breast cancer.{{R, "LVE", "OAM", "ABCOAM" The medal was to be presented on Australia Day 2018, but the ceremony was brought forward due to Johnson's poor health.{{R, "BAddy" Johnson's death was announced by Samuel the following day on the Love Your Sister Facebook page.{{R, guardobit

Love Your Sister

Johnson started the Love Your Sister Charity on New Years Day 2012 with her brother Samuel.{{R, "D@40", "BMtrib" The charity supports the Garvan Institute of Medical Research{{R, "AgeVale" and aimed to raise $AU10 million for cancer research. In February 2013 Samuel left Melbourne on his

unicycle A unicycle is a vehicle that touches the ground with only one wheel. The most common variation has a bicycle frame, frame with a bicycle saddle, saddle, and has a human-powered vehicle, pedal-driven direct-drive mechanism, direct-drive. A two spee ...

and rode a world record {{convert, 15000, km, mi, 2 around Australia in an effort to raise one million dollars for Love Your Sister.{{R, "LastHurrah" The ride ended after 364 days in February 2014 and raised almost $1.5 million.{{R, "5cents" The Big Heart Project aimed to break the record for the longest line of coins, but when they were inundated with donations the plans changed; they created a heart that people could fill with buckets of 5 cent coins. The project raised $2.535 million for the charity. $200,000 was donated to The Cancer Support Group (formerly The Eden Monaro Cancer Support Group).{{R, "AgeVale", "5cents", "abcHeart" Charitable donations received via the Love Your Sister website and the ''Not Another XXXXing Swear Jar'' campaign increased the funds raised by the charity to $5.6 million at the time of Johnson's death.{{R, "AgeVale"

Awards

* Medal of the Order of Australia{{R, "OAM"

Books

* ''Love Your Sister: How far would you go for someone you love?'', Hachette Australia, 29 November 2016 {{ISBN, 9780733637490

References

{{Reflist , 30em , refs= {{cite web , url=http://www.theage.com.au/act-news/canberra-life/vale-connie-johnson-you-made-us-all-kinder-20170719-gxeirm.html , website= The Age , title=Vale Connie Johnson: 'You made us all kinder' , last=Doherty , first=Megan , date=9 September 2017 , access-date=9 September 2017 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170909062807/http://www.theage.com.au/act-news/canberra-life/vale-connie-johnson-you-made-us-all-kinder-20170719-gxeirm.html , archive-date=9 September 2017 {{cite web , url=https://au.be.yahoo.com/entertainment/celebrity/a/36244142/samuel-johnsons-sister-connie-passes-away-after-cancer-battle/ , website=

Yahoo7 Be Yahoo! Australia (formerly Yahoo7 between 2006 and 2018) is the Australian subsidiary of global internet company Yahoo! Originally a 50/50 joint venture between Yahoo! and Seven West Media, it has been a 100% subsidiary of Verizon Media since M ...

, title=Samuel Johnson's sister Connie passes away , last=Stevenson , first=Amy , date=9 September 2017 , access-date=9 September 2017 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170909072536/https://au.be.yahoo.com/entertainment/celebrity/a/36244142/samuel-johnsons-sister-connie-passes-away-after-cancer-battle/ , archive-date=9 September 2017 {{cite web , url=http://www.9news.com.au/national/2017/09/08/19/28/connie-johnson-dies-cancer-battle-love-your-sister , title=Connie Johnson dies aged 40 , website= 9News , date=8 September 2017 , access-date=9 September 2017 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170909075647/http://www.9news.com.au/national/2017/09/08/19/28/connie-johnson-dies-cancer-battle-love-your-sister , archive-date=9 September 2017 {{cite news , url=http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/health-problems/connie-johnson-dead-at-40-samuel-johnsons-sister-loses-cancer-battle/news-story/c808e42b15659f5045171e9a36559aee , website= news.com.au , title=Connie Johnson dead at 40: Samuel Johnson's sister loses cancer battle , last=Sullivan , first=Rebecca , date=9 September 2017 , access-date=9 September 2017 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170909081903/http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/health-problems/connie-johnson-dead-at-40-samuel-johnsons-sister-loses-cancer-battle/news-story/c808e42b15659f5045171e9a36559aee , archive-date=9 September 2017 {{cite web , url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/life/weekend-australian-magazine/10-questions-samuel-johnson-actor-37/news-story/84f5a6e1d22b1dd4a696d358b7d28d14 , title=10 Questions: Samuel Johnson, actor, 37 , last=Rowbotham , first=Jill , date=16 January 2016 , website= The Australian , access-date=9 September 2017 , quote=...When I set off to ride a unicycle around Australia in 2013 to raise money for breast cancer — my sister Connie has it — he MC'd my launch event. Afterwards he was having a few drinks with my eldest sister Hilde, and told her about the series but said he had no idea who’d play him. She said: "What about Sam, you idiot?"... {{cite web , url=http://www.bordermail.com.au/story/4912503/love-your-sisters-connie-johnson-dies-from-cancer/ , title=Love Your Sister's Connie Johnson dies from cancer , last=Groch , first=Sherryn , date=9 September 2017 , website= The Border Mail , access-date=9 September 2017 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170909091413/http://www.bordermail.com.au/story/4912503/love-your-sisters-connie-johnson-dies-from-cancer/ , archive-date=9 September 2017 {{cite web , url=http://honey.nine.com.au/2017/07/10/08/38/connie-johnson-death-cancer-battle , title=Connie Johnson loses her long battle with cancer , date=8 September 2017 , last=Abi , first=Jo , website=9Honey , access-date=9 September 2017 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170909092535/http://honey.nine.com.au/2017/07/10/08/38/connie-johnson-death-cancer-battle , archive-date=9 September 2017 {{cite web , url=http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/record-in-the-making-as-man-rides-unicycle-15000km-20131121-2xywe.html , title=Record in the making as man rides unicycle 15,000km , last=Doherty , first=Megan , date=22 November 2013 , website= The Canberra Times , access-date=9 September 2017 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170909112847/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/record-in-the-making-as-man-rides-unicycle-15000km-20131121-2xywe.html , archive-date=9 September 2017 {{cite web , url=http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/canberra-life/lover-your-sisters-connie-johnsons-last-hurrah--raise-another-1-million-for-breast-cancer-research-20170406-gves6t.html , title=Love Your Sister's Connie Johnson's 'last hurrah' – raise another $1 million for breast cancer research , last=Doherty , first=Megan , date=7 April 2017 , website=The Canberra Times , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170909115512/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/canberra-life/lover-your-sisters-connie-johnsons-last-hurrah--raise-another-1-million-for-breast-cancer-research-20170406-gves6t.html , archive-date=9 September 2017 {{cite web , url=http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/show-the-love-for-love-your-sisters-connie-johnson-and-donate-your-5-cent-coins-20161109-gslgb2.html , title=Show the love for Love Your Sister's Connie Johnson and donate your 5 cent coins , last=Doherty , first=Megan , date=10 November 2016 , website=The Canberra Times , access-date=9 September 2017 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170909122710/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/show-the-love-for-love-your-sisters-connie-johnson-and-donate-your-5-cent-coins-20161109-gslgb2.html , archive-date=9 September 2017 {{cite web , url=https://www.gg.gov.au/events/canberra-act-193 , title=Events Canberra ACT 7th September 2017 , website=Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia , access-date=9 September 2017 , url-status=dead , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170909132346/https://www.gg.gov.au/events/canberra-act-193 , archive-date=9 September 2017 {{cite web , url=http://www.latrobevalleyexpress.com.au/story/4910108/connie-johnson-awarded-oam/ , title=Love Your Sister's Connie Johnson awarded Medal of Order of Australia in hospice , last=Groch , first=Sherryn , date=8 September 2017 , website=Latrobe Valley Express , access-date=10 September 2017 , url-status=dead , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170910025529/http://www.latrobevalleyexpress.com.au/story/4910108/connie-johnson-awarded-oam/ , archive-date=10 September 2017 {{cite web , url=http://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/story/4912503/love-your-sisters-connie-johnson-dies-from-cancer/?cs=2452 , title=Love Your Sister's Connie Johnson dies from cancer , date=9 September 2017 , last=Groch , first=Sherryn , website= Bendigo Advertiser , access-date=10 September 2017 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170910031752/http://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/story/4912503/love-your-sisters-connie-johnson-dies-from-cancer/?cs=2452 , archive-date=10 September 2017 {{cite web , url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-05-10/canberras-big-silver-heart-for-connie-johnsons-final-hurrah/8514168 , title=Love Your Sister: Millions of five-cent coins make big silver heart for Connie Johnson's 'final hurrah' , date=11 May 2017 , website= ABC News , access-date=10 September 2017 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170910033741/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-05-10/canberras-big-silver-heart-for-connie-johnsons-final-hurrah/8514168 , archive-date=10 September 2017 {{cite web , url=https://www.hachette.com.au/samuel-johnson-connie-johnson/love-your-sister , title=Love Your Sister , website=

Hachette Australia Hachette () is a French publisher. Founded in 1826 by Louis Hachette as Brédif, the company later became L. Hachette et Compagnie, Librairie Hachette, Hachette SA and Hachette Livre in France. After acquiring an Australian publisher, Hachette ...

, access-date=10 September 2017 , last1=Johnson , first1=Samuel , author-link=Samuel Johnson (actor) , last2=Johnson , first2=Connie , date=29 November 2016 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170910042144/https://www.hachette.com.au/samuel-johnson-connie-johnson/love-your-sister , archive-date=10 September 2017 {{cite book , title=Love Your Sister: How far would you go for someone you love? , last1=Johnson , first1=Connie , last2=Johnson , first2=Samuel , date=2 February 2021 , author-link2=Samuel Johnson (actor) , publisher=Hachette Australia , isbn=9780733637490 {{cite web, url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-09-08/connie-johnson-awarded-medal-of-order-of-australia/8884380, title=Connie Johnson awarded Medal of Order of Australia by Governor-General at Canberra hospice, last1=Sibthorpe, first1=Clare, last2=Francis, first2=Adrienne, date=8 September 2017, website=ABC News , access-date=1 March 2018, url-status=live, archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180301070319/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-09-08/connie-johnson-awarded-medal-of-order-of-australia/8884380, archive-date=1 March 2018 {{cite web, url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/sep/09/connie-johnson-breast-cancer-awareness-advocate-dies-at-40, title=Connie Johnson, breast cancer awareness advocate, dies at 40, date=8 September 2017, last=Wahlquist, first=Calla, work= The Guardian, access-date=26 May 2018, url-status=live, archive-url=https://archive.today/20180526035043/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/sep/09/connie-johnson-breast-cancer-awareness-advocate-dies-at-40, archive-date=26 May 2018

External links

Love Your Sister website
{{Authority control {{DEFAULTSORT:Johnson, Connie 1977 births 2017 deaths Cancer fundraisers Australian women philanthropists Recipients of the Medal of the Order of Australia Breast cancer Deaths from cancer in the Australian Capital Territory Deaths from breast cancer Date of birth missing 20th-century Australian philanthropists 20th-century women philanthropists