Emily Lahey, a 32-year-old woman from Melbourne, Australia, who has been battling terminal cancer, has chosen a unique way to raise awareness and funds for cancer research. Diagnosed in 2019 with a rare and aggressive cancer called NUT carcinoma, Lahey was initially given only nine months to live. However, thanks to an innovative treatment in the United States, she has lived three years beyond that prognosis.
Now, Lahey is participating in a living art exhibition called “Time to Live,” organized by the Australian Cancer Research Foundation (ACRF). This exhibition features a unique concept: auctioning three-minute slots of Lahey’s remaining time. In this installation, 30 individuals will sit with Lahey, one by one, for three minutes each, while a large projection emphasizes the fleeting nature of time. The goal of this event is to raise funds for cancer research and to highlight the value of time—something that is often taken for granted.
Raising awareness about the value of time
Lahey hopes that this exhibition will inspire people to appreciate the time they have. “I hope it allows [people] to see life with a slightly different perspective. It’s time to live. Be present, make the most of it, because it can’t be bought, it can’t be saved. And when it’s gone, it’s gone,” she said in an interview with The Sunday Project, an Australian TV show.
Before her diagnosis, Lahey was an active and healthy individual, regularly running 5 to 10 kilometers daily. She never considered cancer a possibility. Since her diagnosis, Lahey’s life has been a rollercoaster of emotions and experiences. Despite the uncertainty surrounding her remaining time, she has embraced each day with gratitude. “Everything comes and goes in waves. It’s like being on a constant rollercoaster. There were times I struggled to look beyond the next day or week. As time goes on, I’m gaining a bit more confidence to look towards the end of the year,” Lahey shared with 7NEWS.com.au.
Impact of the “Time to Live” exhibition
The “Time to Live” exhibition aims to bring attention to the ongoing need for cancer research funding. Carly Du Toit, the Head of Fundraising and Marketing at ACRF, expressed the foundation’s hopes for the project: “We hope this idea helps highlight the continued need for backing brilliant research that could give those impacted by cancer, like Emily and her loved ones, the gift of the most precious thing we desire – more time.”
Lahey’s participation in this living art exhibition underscores the importance of appreciating life and making the most of every moment. By sharing her experience and auctioning her time, she not only raises vital funds for cancer research but also encourages others to value their own time and live life to the fullest.