Manchester Thunder netballer Sophie Fawns is using her move to the UK to speak openly about her mother Maureen’s death from ovarian cancer at age 52. Maureen encouraged Sophie to live fully, urging her to party just before her terminal diagnosis became apparent. Fawns remembers the unexpected nature of the news, as her mother initially downplayed the severity of the illness.

Fawns finds that discussing the disease helps combat the stigma surrounding gynaecological cancers, which are often diagnosed too late. She recounted the painful drives between Wagga Wagga and Sydney for training while her mother underwent treatment. This period, however, provided Sophie Fawns with invaluable one-on-one time with Maureen, cementing her support for her daughter's career.

Her mother’s influence proved foundational, pulling Sophie from initial reluctance into the sport she now professionally navigates in the Manchester Thunder setup. Fawns admitted that had Maureen shared the full prognosis, she likely would have abandoned her professional netball pursuit to spend more time together. She advocates for better education starting at grassroots levels to aid early detection.

Sport has since become a tool for processing grief, although Fawns finds simple platitudes, like believing her mother watches from above, rather than helpful. Teammates adapted by organising meaningful gestures, such as sparklers by the lake, acknowledging the passing date of November 2021.