About Mummy’s Wish

Practical support for mums with cancer

A mum with cancer is still a mumMummy's Wish Purpose, Values and Strategic Objectives

Every year 5000 Australian mums with children under 13 receive the devastating news they have cancer.

Mummy’s Wish helps manage the distressing burden of cancer on mums and their families by providing practical, tailored support during the entire treatment journey. This support gives the gift of time to mums with cancer so they can focus on what’s most important, being a mum.

Subject to our funding, our support may include:

  • Ongoing contact with a qualified, experienced support coordinator
  • Care packs
  • Recordable comfort bears
  • Cleaning services
  • Healthy meals
  • Grocery and fuel vouchers
  • Counselling sessions
  • Priceless information and resources
  • And much more!

Our Impact

Mummy’s Wish has supported more than 7000 families since 2007. We currently support 1000 of the 5000 mums diagnosed with cancer who have children under 13 every year.

In March 2024, Mummy’s Wish became a program of Rare Cancers Australia (ABN 24 159 196 997).

It is our goal is to deliver our service to every mum who receives a cancer diagnosis and has children under 13 by the year 2025.

Find out more about our impact here.

Our Story

Our founder knows all too well the shock and fear associated with finding out you have cancer when you have a young family to care for. Mummy’s Wish was founded by Queensland mum Bernadette Vella who understands firsthand how daunting the doctor’s words “you have cancer” are when you are the primary carer of young children. Mummy’s Wish delivers a unique and critical support services, refined and developed following the personal experience of its founder and the many mums we have supported since we were founded in 2007.

In March 2024, Mummy’s Wish became a program of Rare Cancers Australia (ABN 24 159 196 997).

Just 14 weeks into her pregnancy with daughter Arielle, the founder of Mummy’s Wish, Bernadette, was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

At 32, with a 12-week-old baby, Gayle was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Her family went into over-drive, sorting out babysitting between the grandparents so her husband could work to pay the bills.