Dare to Hope co-founder Cherie Dear has been named a Victorian finalist for the 2027 Australian of the Year Award, in recognition of her tireless advocacy and fundraising work for pancreatic cancer.
Cherie is one of four Victorian finalists for the award that celebrates the achievements and contributions of extraordinary Australians.
Cherie said she was humbled by her selection and hoped it would help bring greater recognition and understanding of a cancer that takes the lives of nearly 4,000 Australians each year.
“Pancreatic cancer is one of our deadliest, yet it lacks the attention and support that many less deadly diseases receive,” she said.
“We need a greater focus on funding and developing effective treatments that give people diagnosed with this terrible disease real hope.
“I am honoured to be named a Victorian finalist among such inspiring people who do incredible work for our wonderful community.”
Dare to Hope board member Prof Robyn Murphy said she was absolutely delighted to see Cherie receive this recognition.
“What Cherie has achieved through Dare to Hope is remarkable, turning her own experience into a powerful commitment to helping others as they navigate some of the most challenging times in their lives,” she said.
“Cherie brings enormous compassion, energy and generosity to this work, and I can think of few people more deserving of being recognised in this way.”
Cherie started Dare to Hope with her husband, AFL legend Paul Dear, when he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2020. He died from the disease in July 2022, and months later she also lost her father to it.
She established the annual Easter Monday Dare to Hope AFL match between Hawthorn and Geelong, to raise critical funds and awareness for pancreatic cancer. Dare to Hope is now the Official Charity Partner of the Hawthorn Football Club.
Now in its fifth year, it has raised more than $2 million to directly support research, and has awarded more than $1 million to three research fellowships focussed on helping develop more effective treatments for pancreatic cancer.
Cherie was nominated by her close friend, Megan Martin, who also lost her sister to pancreatic cancer.
“Over these past four years since Paul’s death, Cherie has managed to balance supporting her four children with growing Dare to Hope. Cherie truly inspires everyone she meets with her grit, unrelenting determination and incredible networking ability, always finding a way forward,” she said.
“This is hard work - having to put yourself out there, ask for support and accept rejection all in an attempt to get pancreatic cancer on the agenda, but Cherie does not give up and what she has accomplished this far with Dare to Hope is really quite incredible.”
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