When David Fintan woke on an ordinary Tuesday morning in May 2018, it felt like any other day: exercise, school drop-off, work. By the close of business, he was fighting for his life.
On his way into the office, David took a short detour for a GP-ordered blood test to investigate some strange symptoms: sore eyes, a persistent cough, a racing heart.
Four hours later, his phone rang at work.
“They said, ‘You need to go to emergency. We’re almost certain you’ve got leukaemia.’”
David drove himself to Canberra Hospital, calling his wife Amanda on the way.
Out of the Blue
One day David was a healthy, active 41-year-old father of three with a busy job. Out of the blue, he was a cancer patient, diagnosed with an aggressive acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), facing months of radiation, chemotherapy, and a bone marrow transplant just to survive.
David’s journey through treatment was long and often frightening, facing intensive radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
After initial elation that David’s brother was a perfect stem cell match and the graft had started to grow new blood cells, things went quickly downhill. A mysterious illness brought violent attacks of vomiting and diarrhoea up to 20 times a day. Just lying in bed, David’s temperature was 40 degrees and his heart rate was 150 beats per minute, like a man running a marathon.
“I got weaker and weaker and sicker and sicker,” he says. He was tested multiple times for life-threatening graft versus host disease, but the results were always negative.
Close to end of life, David’s medical team told his wife Amanda they had no choice but to try the graft versus host treatment, knowing he was so sick the high dose steroidal therapy was a risk.
Thankfully, the doctor’s instincts were correct and within 24 hours, David was sitting up and eating.
It was his 42nd birthday and David had been given the gift of life.
Why we need to be ready
David’s story is one of hundreds from patients across the ACT and surrounding regions who find themselves in crisis without warning. That’s why the Canberra Hospitals Foundation has made Out of the Blue its 2025 fundraising theme.
Because health emergencies don’t wait for the right time. They arrive in the middle of the night, halfway through a pregnancy, during any ordinary day. They don’t discriminate, and they don’t warn. They strike out of the blue.
Chair of the Canberra Hospitals Foundation board, Susan Proctor, said the Out of the Blue campaign would channel funds into groundbreaking initiatives across patient care and innovation.
“This year, the Out of the Blue campaign will support some extraordinary projects. Reimagining how meals are delivered in hospital through a room-service style model, supporting the Centre for Personalised Medicine, and investing in world-class surgical robotics,” said Ms Proctor.
The Big Wig Challenge
One of the largest fundraising events supporting the Out of the Blue fund is the Big Wig Challenge. This October, Canberra’s business leaders and community champions will raise vital funds by zip-lining from a tall building at Canberra Airport.
Created in partnership with Stephen Byron, CEO of Canberra Airport and Director of the Snow Foundation, the event is more than a fundraising stunt — it’s a symbol of courage, community spirit.
To qualify, each Big Wig must raise a minimum of $5,000. That money goes directly to the Out of the Blue fund, helping provide critical equipment, enhance care, and deliver comfort to patients and families when they need it most.
Susan reflected on the human impact of community support, pointing to David’s story.
“I’m reminded of people like David Fintan, a healthy, active father of three who, out of the blue, was told he had leukaemia. Overnight his life changed forever,” said Susan.
“Thanks to extraordinary care at Canberra Hospital and the generosity of the community, David is here today, cured, hopeful, and preparing to zipline with us this year.”
Canberra Hospitals Foundation CEO Helen Falla says the fund is vital to support local patients, their families, and the frontline staff who care for them through trauma and sickness.
“You can’t predict a crisis — but you can make sure families don’t face it alone.”
A rivalry for good
A friendly fundraising rivalry started in 2024 between Stephen Byron and Omar Muscat, a well-known Canberra hospitality identity with a long history of running popular cafés and restaurants. The challenge? A race to raise the most dollars for the Big Wig Challenge.
Omar went on to smash all fundraising records, raising $68,000 with Stephen close behind. He said his motivation to join the challenge came from personal experiences with his young family in hospital.
“I’ve got two little boys, and through their younger days you end up in hospital unexpectedly. What the team does at the hospital in those moments with trauma and caring for the community was something I wanted to give back to,” he said.
The challenge was put to him, and he roped his good friend Stephen in soon after, who took a little convincing before joining the cause.
“I don’t think I would have done it unless Omar was there. But because we were together, I had no choice,” Stephen said.
“I remember thinking of kids in the hospital getting needles and how much fun that wouldn’t be. I thought, I’m not going to be a bigger wimp than them.”
For Omar, the effort was about more than raising money.
“For me, personally, it was an achievement to show my children that you’ve got to give back, do the right thing, and not be scared in life. Just be uncomfortable. It’s important. The fact that I did it with Steve was really special. We conquered it, and we raised a lot of money for the hospital.”
This year, Omar and Stephen are throwing down the challenge to the Canberra community and all potential Big Wigs to match, or break, his fundraising total dollar for dollar.
“It’s a good thing to give back for the Canberra community. And look, if you’re out there, I challenge you to step up and give it a good crack,” said Stephen.
For both men, it’s about more than bragging rights. It’s about inspiring others to give, proving that leadership is about action, and showing that when the community comes together, remarkable things happen.
Why it matters
Today, David Fintan is cured. It’s a bold statement, but it’s true. And he’s determined to give back.
He’s telling his story as part of the Big Wig Challenge, and he’s even planning to don a harness and take the leap on October 17, hoping to raise awareness about how fast life can change and how vital community support is in those moments.
“I want people to know that I didn’t survive this alone,” he says. “I had doctors, nurses, my family — and people I’ll never meet who gave to the Foundation without even knowing my name. That’s powerful.”
How to get involved
On Friday 17 October, 25 local Big Wigs will step up to the zipline, taking the leap not because they’re fearless, quite the opposite. It’s because they believe in standing with patients and their families in their most challenging moments.
To be part of the Big Wig Challenge:
- Visit canberrahospitalfoundation.org.au to/event/big-wig-2025 browse the list of registered Big Wigs.
- Read their stories and motivations.
- Donate to support your favourite participant.
Out of the Blue isn’t just a slogan — it’s a frightening fact of life. David was young, healthy, and had very few symptoms. One blood test changed everything. If it can happen to him, it can happen to any of us.
That’s why the Big Wig Challenge matters. Because it’s not just about big wigs and zip lines, it’s about our community being ready to stand tall (or fly high) when others fall.
Because health emergencies come out of the blue, but compassion, community, and care can be ready and waiting.
Give a little. Help a lot. Visit canberrahospitalfoundation.org.au to get involved.
