Sahar Mourad
Caring

Johnny Ruffo’s Christmas present to sick children

Johnny Ruffo has praised his girlfriend Tahnee Sims for being by his side as he continues through treatment for brain cancer.

The former Home and Away actor said that he owed everything to his incredible girlfriend who he joked had it harder than him because “she has to deal with me”. 

"Having Tahnee by my side every step of the way, literally and metaphorically, she's incredible. I couldn't do it without her,” he told 9Honey.

"She does it just as hard as I do. She's having to deal with all the doctors and what they're saying, and then she has to deal with me once we get home as well.”

The singer is going through chemotherapy once every three weeks and said he wanted to give gave as the holiday season creeps up. 

Ruffo partnered with Amazon Australia to help twelve superhero children from the Starlight Children’s Foundation to become official toy testers for the festive season.

"It brings such joy to me. It's a privilege to be able to know that you are helping them forget about everything that they're going through," he said in the Starlight Children's Foundation campaign.

"I feel like I get as much out of it as the kids. It's quite cathartic for me to be able to bring joy to these children who are somewhat in a similar position."

The 34-year-old was first diagnosed with brain cancer in 2017 after struggling with multiple headaches.

Ruffo then announced in 2019 that he was in remission, but by November 2020 the cancer had returned, before confirming in 2022 that his illness is terminal.

He has also recently released a memoir called No Finish Line, dedicated to his girlfriend, in which he details his experiences recording music, acting, his family and loved ones.

The title, he explains, is that “it wasn’t the end”.

Images: Instagram

Tags:
Johnny Ruffo, Starlight Children’s Foundation, Amazon Australia, Christmas