Known for her heels and her heart, Wishlist volunteer Adele Pashby embodies resilience, finding light in her darkest moments and helping others to see it too.
It was December 2016 when Adele and her partner Tony Sullivan rolled a trolley filled with gifts into Wishlist, sparking a relationship with the team that soon became like family.
Their lives changed when Tony was diagnosed with bowel cancer only a few months later and began a difficult journey through treatment at the Adem Crosby Centre where the Wishlist team regularly stopped by to support them.
“The Wishlist team always had time for us; it just feels good to give back to those that are there for you when you need them,” Adele said.
After Tony’s passing in 2018, Adele was more determined than ever to give back, even through her own health battles of having two cancer diagnoses and surgeries, and found herself helping Wishlist with data entry, wrapping gifts, Spring Carnivals and being the raffle selling queen.
In 2023, Adele experienced Wishlist Centre from a different perspective when she stayed there during her first neck cancer treatment, reaching a full-circle moment having been present as a volunteer for the build and opening of the centre.
“After staying at Wishlist Centre I realised just how important the little touches are; you have everything in your room you need for nothing, and it’s a warm, welcoming and friendly environment.
“I would sit in the communal area and have a chat with new people or just chill out, and enjoy massages, reiki and healing touch sessions still to this day.”
Adele completed radiation in January 2024 and continues to embrace life with a positive attitude.
“You’ve always got to find that positivity somewhere, and it’s in there - my glass is always half full.
My slogan is: don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today, because tomorrow isn’t promised."
Adele looks toward the future, with upcoming plans to travel to New Zealand with her daughter and granddaughter, a cruise in February 2025, continuing to volunteer for Wishlist and hopeful for one last surgery – knee replacement in April 2025.
Adele’s compassion extends well beyond her volunteering duties as she shared a story about meeting a woman who was anxious about her first chemotherapy session, “I told her that she couldn’t go on her own for her first appointment so I accompanied her, and I was just giving my time but she was so grateful.
We still keep in touch, and she is now halfway through her treatment.”
Would you like to volunteer? Join our family of caring volunteers across the Sunshine Coast and Gympie at wishlist.org.au or email info@wishlist.org.au.
