This month we shine our CCIA spotlight on Craig Goozee and his incredible A2B4C event, all done in memory of his beautiful daughter Jess’

While CCIA thinks everyone who comes forward to help us is a hero, in 2001 we were introduced to an absolutely incredible father, Craig Goozee, and his A2B4C quest. Craig and his wife, Lisa, first established A2B4C in 1997, when their eldest daughter, Jessica, was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer called Ewing’s sarcoma after discovering a small lump in her right elbow. Wanting to help raise money and awareness for research into childhood cancer, Craig set out on an 800km surf-ski paddle up the east coast of Australia, from Avalon to Broadbeach (Avalon to Broadbeach for Cancer), in March 1998.

Although Craig’s journey was a huge success, raising more than $150,000, Jessica relapsed shortly after, leaving doctors no choice but to amputate her arm. Sadly, the cancer returned and Jessica lost her battle on 24 June, 1999, aged nine. Jessica’s final wish was for Craig to continue his fundraising efforts. Keeping his promise, Craig embarked on his second A2B4C event in 2001. Setting his sights higher than ever, this journey saw Craig travel from Albany, in Western Australia, to Broken Bay, in NSW, raising more than $500,000 for childhood cancer research.

As if this wasn’t enough, Craig set himself a third and final challenge in 2009 – to run, cycle and paddle around Australia, starting at Australia Square and finishing at Bennelong Point in Sydney. The trip took Craig 93 days and, using Jess’s memory to keep him going, Craig raised a phenomenal $850,000! Craig remains a huge part of CCIA’s soul. After receiving the Chairman’s Award in 2009, he is now an official ambassador for CCIA and continues to be an inspiration to us all.