In December, the NSW Government shared the sad news of the passing of Anthony Keon, CEO of Hospitality and Racing. Keon, who leaves behind his wife Nimity and three children, died at just 46 years of age after a year-long battle with cancer.
In a tribute to Keon, and in support of his family, a GoFundMe page has been created by his Hospitality and Racing colleagues with the consent of his wife.
The fund, which will be wholly distributed to his wife, will assist with the considerable expenses incurred for Anthony’s complex medical and at-home care throughout his battle with a rare pancreatic cancer until his passing on Wednesday 6 December 2023.
The GoFundMe has been widely supported by members of the hotel and club industries, already raising $90,635 out of the $100,000 goal through 163 donations. Government members, industry bodies, sporting teams, hospitality and club groups, and publicans have been among those to contribute to the fund.
It is stated on the GoFundMe: “Unfortunately, Medicare is not structured to fund the off-label use of medicines that are necessary to treat rare diseases which don’t fit neatly into approved treatment plans. Given how rare the form of cancer that struck Anthony is, oncologists and other specialists deployed myriad off-label medicines, chemotherapy and other treatments.
“Whilst worth every cent expended, financially, this has set Nimity and the kids – Lulu, Felix and Oliver – back considerably.
“In honour of the generous, kind, courageous and thoroughly decent man that Anthony was, this fund has been established to pay-forward the countless occasions Anthony selflessly gave of himself and leveraged his influence to positively impact the lives of so many that had the privilege to have been but a small part of his world.
“The Fund is also a tribute to Anthony’s unwavering positivity in the face of such daunting odds to the very end, and his enduring love and devotion to Nimity and their kids.”
For those interested in donating or reading updates, the GoFundMe page can be found here.