The response to Lithgow’s ‘A heart as big as yours’ art project exceeded expectations, with $1600 raised on Sunday, July 23.
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The art project by artist Marie Ramos is gathering thousands of fingerprints, pressed into clay to make a heart, to create an art installation for the Garvan Institute.
It is part of the Love Your Sister campaign and will feature Connie Johnson’s heart imprint in the centre, surrounded by those of Australians helping to fund the fight against cancer.
To be involved, each person donated $50, all of which went to the Garvan Institute.
Connie’s journey has captured the heart of the nation with her Gold Logie winning brother Samuel and the Love Your Sister community raising over $4.5 million but she is now is preparing to say goodbye after stopping treatment for breast cancer in January,
Artist Marie Ramos came to Lithgow over the weekend to take the heart imprints.
Organiser Jodie Rayner said 25 men and women came along to have their imprint taken.
“We were not expecting that many, with only two day’s notice, and Maria had to roll out more clay on the day,” she said.
Maria was inspired to take a 12 month sabbatical to focus on the art project after meeting Connie in her hometown of Canberra. a Heart As Big As Yours Artwork which Connie is eager to see with plans to unveil the finished artwork to the public at the Garvan Institute in October, Cancer Awareness Month.
“She is the most humble person I have ever met. Her love and concern for others is to be admired even in the midst of her pain and suffering,” Marie said.
The project aims to raise $100,000 and will be unveiled in October.
“It’s my way of giving back after being lucky enough to celebrate ten years in business doing what I love – creating memories for families through my photography and baby imprints,” Maria said.