Rise Above Senior Community Relationship Manager Belinda Barnier (C) with Natalie Leckenby (L) and Shariah Whitfield Business Manager at the 2025 Canberra Day Fun Run. Photo: Rise Above.
Belinda (Bin) Barnier has countless stories highlighting the multiplying effect of Capital region cancer relief organisation Rise Above — including her own.
The organisation’s Senior Community Relationship Manager is a survivor and former beneficiary of the organisation, which helps families cover costs such as medication, food, petrol and electricity during active treatment.
She can attest firsthand to the trajectory-changing impact of support at this critical juncture, and its power to inspire a “pay it forward” attitude.
“We support cancer patients of any age and cancer type from the Canberra region, while they are undergoing treatment. The side effects of their cancer treatments can change you at a basic level — interrupt sleep, cause neuropathy (pain) in hands and feet, change your taste and diet, your ability to function and your mental state.
“That’s why we don’t means test, because when you’re in the thick of cancer treatments, you sometimes can’t even stand up, let alone work. Cashflow can be a daily stressor, and having a cancer patient worrying about where the next meal is coming from is an appalling situation.”
Vouchers for groceries, fuel and utilities can have a profound effect.
“The support we give helps minimise trauma, ultimately helping people come back from a life-changing episode, so they’re able to create their ‘new normal’ as quickly as possible. Anecdotally, I would say 80 per cent of people who come to us eventually return to work,” Bin says.
“But more than helping restore their ability to work, our goal is to assist in a way that doesn’t demand anything back. It’s not a loan you have to pay back, and you’re not begging. It’s from the community to an individual, and that instils the most amazing goodwill. Invariably, I have seen those who survive go on to pay it forward. It’s why I work here.”
In fact, of the three and a half staff running the Rise Above ship, three received support from the organisation during their own cancer journey.
In 2025, Rise Above supported 788 local cancer patients, including 455 new patients — a lift of 20 per cent from the year before, which was a 20 per cent lift on the year before that.
Right now, the organisation is spending $40,000 a month (almost half a million a year) on groceries and fuel.
This year, its focus is on providing pharmacy and nutrition products for patients.
Products that help tackle the side effects of cancer therapies include everything from dressings and topical treatments to address radiotherapy burns to anti-nausea and pain relief drugs, and vital food supplements.
“One 78‑year‑old gentleman comes to mind. He was living alone on the aged pension and undergoing intensive cancer treatment that left him unable to eat solid food,” Bin says.
“The hospital dietitian prescribed a specialised liquid nutrition product that was vital to help maintain weight and keep his strength up, so he could continue treatment safely. But it was completely out of reach financially, especially as it needed to be taken daily.
“Rise Above stepped in and placed the order directly with the supplier and arranged for the nutrition cartons to be delivered straight to his home, so he didn’t have to struggle with transport or worry about running out. Without that support, he told us he would have had no way to afford what his medical team considered essential.”
Rise Above also opens accounts at a patient’s local chemist to help cover the costs. But like everything, the organisation’s ability to help is directly equated to the support it gets from the community.
That’s why the organisation is looking with hopeful eyes to the upcoming Hands Across Canberra Day Appeal.
The appeal is a collective effort between Hands Across Canberra (HAC), the Chief Minister’s Charitable Fund, community organisations and Canberra individuals, families and businesses, who band together to turn the event into a day where everyone in Canberra gives where they live.
Throughout the campaign, charities do their own fundraising, culminating in Canberra Day on Monday 9 March at which point HAC will match donations up to $2500 for each charity.
“In our 40th year of supporting locals fighting for their lives, I hope that we can all come together as a generous community and reach out to help make the journey a little easier for others,” Bin says. “You never know when you, or someone you love, may need the kindness of a stranger.”
For more information, visit the Canberra Day Appeal.
