Carrie Bickmore, who lost her husband Greg Lange to brain cancer in 2010, has taken to Instagram to share her love and support with Johnny Ruffo.
On Thursday, the former Home And Away star revealed he had undergone emergency brain surgery.
“On Sunday I went into hospital with a migraine,” Johnny told TV WEEK. “I had to have emergency surgery to have a brain tumour removed. I am on the mend and feeling positive. Keep me in your thoughts.”
Family, friends and fans alike have since taken to social media to wish the 29-year-old well — including the much-loved television personality and devoted brain cancer campaigner.
Taking to Instagram, Carrie, 36, wrote: “Devastating news for Johnny Ruffo. Thinking of you mate during this scary time.”
The Project co-host shared her message alongside a confronting photo of the 2011 X-Factor finalist, which showed a dramatic post-surgery scar — bruised and swollen — running across the top of his forehead.
The former Home And Away star revealed the distressing news with two images — one of him recovering in a hospital bed, and another showing his dramatic post-surgery scar (above).
Carrie introduced her Beanies 4 Brain Cancer initiative during her Logies acceptance speech in 2015 to widespread acclaim.
In the emotional speech, the Australian-native donned a bright blue beanie and implored those watching to wear one the next day in support those suffering from brain cancer.
“I’m going to use the two minutes that I have up here… to talk about something incredibly close to my heart. I want to talk to you about brain cancer,” she said.
“Everyone thinks it’s this rare form of cancer. It’s not. It kills more people under 40 than any other cancer. It kills more kids than any other disease. And it receives next to no funding, which is ludicrous.”
WATCH: Carrie’s impassioned speech has gone down in Logie history. Post continues…
She also spoke about her late husband’s tragic ordeal.
“Over ten years I watched him suffer multiple seizures a day, lose feeling down one side of his body, saw his three-year-old push him in his wheelchair because he couldn’t walk anymore,” she told the audience.
“He was an incredibly brave man, he was a great dad, he was a great husband, he was a great brother and he was a great friend but he shouldn’t of have to go through that.”
She added: “Throughout his cancer journey he used to wear a lot of beanies, and that was because he was embarrassed about his scars. Beanies are cool.”
The three-time Logie winner finished her speech with a moving dedication.
“I want to dedicate this award to anyone who is going through a really s–t time right now, anyone who is supporting someone through a really tough time right now, please believe that there will be a brighter day for you,” she said.
Since then she has become a figurehead for the cancer and has used her profile to raise awareness and crucial funds for research into treatment options for sufferers of the illness.
