Sunrise presenter Edwina Bartholomew has become a National Ambassador for The Leukaemia Foundation, a cause close to her heart.
In September 2024, Edwina shared the heartbreaking news that she had been diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia following a blood test in July.
“When I first heard the words ‘you have cancer’, I had no idea what to expect and what was ahead. I thought there would be some kind of handbook to follow – but there wasn’t,” she said.
The mother-of-two went into “molecular remission” around April 2025, revealing to Sunrise viewers that, “the leukaemia has essentially been eradicated from my body to the point that it’s almost undetectable now.”
While attending 2025 The Australian Women’s Weekly Health Summit, Edwina revealed how grateful she was to discover her cancer wasn’t as serious as it could have become.
“I feel like I was in a car accident and left without a scratch,” she said. “My [cancer treatment] tablet is a daily reminder of how lucky I am and how I need to prioritise myself,” she said. “I hate to say that ‘I’m blessed’, but it makes me think about how I’m going to live tomorrow, what my tomorrow will be like, and how I get to have one.”
Now, Edwina, 41, is the National Ambassador of The Leukaemia Foundation ahead of Blood Cancer Month beginning on September 1 – roughly a year after her announcement.
“I feel proud to be joining the Leukaemia Foundation as a national ambassador,” Edwina said.
“I’ve been personally diagnosed with blood cancer, so there’s something powerful about standing alongside a community of people who truly understand what it’s like.”
According to The Leukaemia Foundation, more than 150,000 Australians are living with blood cancer, a disease often described as Australia’s ‘hidden cancer crisis.’
As ambassador, Edwina hopes to encourage other women – especially busy mothers like herself – to prioritise their health and get regular check-ups.
“If I can help others to navigate what can be a scary diagnosis, it is a wonderful thing.
“My hope in this role is to work with the Leukaemia Foundation to assist in building a stronger network of care across Australia, so people feel supported not only at diagnosis, but throughout treatment, and once it ends. Living well after cancer is such an important thing.”
