Jess Mileusnic

This September, I’m Going The Distance to help patients with cancer at Chris O'Brien Lifehouse.

This September, we’re going the distance for our friend and my husband Igor. I am also going the distance for my brother John. 

Cat Stalmachowski, Em Mattick, Clara and Sam Morrison, and I are stepping up. We are doing something we never thought we would — pushing our limits in honour of an extraordinary man.

In September 2024, my husband Igor was in ICU, fighting for his life. Hooked up to machines, surrounded by monitors and drains, he could barely walk. But every single day, I watched him try. He fought to get out of bed. He pushed to take just one lap around ICU, dragging all those tubes and wires with him, because giving up simply wasn't in his nature.

He finally made it out of ICU and back to the ward. We held onto hope. We believed we’d bring him home. But unfortunately complications took him from us quickly in the October.

These past months have been the most painful of my life. The grief has been heavy. The absence of Igor — my husband, my person — is beyond words.

But Igor was a force of light and strength. He never complained, not once, through nearly two years of chronic pain. He kept showing up to life. He kept walking. He kept trying to get back to the gym, and had high hopes of playing volleyball again (even with a new hip). He never stopped going the distance — even when every step hurt.

And now, we’re going the distance in his honour.

Honestly, Igor would laugh — running long distances or doing any form of long distance exercise is not my thing. But this isn’t just for Iggy. This is for Tilly, too. To show her what strength looks like. What love, grit, and perseverance look like. What it means to carry someone’s spirit forward with you.

We're going the distance because Igor never stopped trying. And neither will we.

P.S. My “distance” will most likely be covered in laps at the pool — and Sam joked his might be carved out on a snowboard somewhere on the slopes. But regardless of how we each get there, we’re all going the distance together.

I’m incredibly grateful for this group of friends who continue to lift me up, keep me going, and walk (or swim… or snowboard) beside me through it all. Thank you for being a strength for Iggy and for me during some incredibly hard and sad times. 

Lifehouse is a place of hope and with more funding hopefully means more cures which means people like Iggy can live longer lives and children like Tilly don’t have to lose a parent.

For Johnny: 

I know we have an amazing team Going the Distance for Iggy, but I’m also going the distance for Johnny.

What many people don’t realise is that individuals with significant disabilities often face very limited treatment options—and it’s absolutely heartbreaking 💔 Some don’t even get a choice in their treatment simply because they have a disability. That’s not acceptable!!! 

We urgently need more research and better support in this area.

Everyone deserves access to treatment and even better, a cure for all cancers. No one should be left behind! 

John loved going the distance—whether it was a long car ride, a bus, or a train trip. So this year, I’ll be going the distance for him. Maybe I’ll even take my bike on the train and ride around town. 

We love you Johnny boy!! 

With your support, every kilometre will count towards ensuring the very best cancer care is available to everyone in our community.

All donations will help Chris O’Brien Lifehouse continue to provide compassionate, research-driven cancer care, as well as holistic support services for people with cancer.

Every kilometre counts, can I count on you?