AFL Star’s Wife, Kellie Finlayson, Turns Her Battle with Bowel Cancer into a Message of Hope
Kellie Finlayson is an Australian author, influencer, and advocate for cancer awareness. She is also the wife of AFL star Jeremy Finlayson. Her journey with stage 4 cancer has, in equal parts, been deeply personal and incredibly public. In Australia, tens of thousands have been inspired by her life story and her transparency. Kellie truly embodies the phrase “live life to the fullest” and has shown that through her honesty and vulnerability.
Early Life and Family Background
Kellie Finlayson is of Australian heritage. She spent her early years in a nurturing environment. Although the names of her birth parents are not well known, it is clear that her family played an important role in her development, with them being kind and level-headed. The community roots she had in rural Australia gifted her a sense of humanity and, as such, humility. These traits would eventually prove essential during her battle with cancer.
Education
Kellie has completed her education at a university based in Australia. This came after taking a trip to Europe, a journey that let her see new sights while claiming new experiences before settling down. It was shortly after returning to Australia that she met Jeremy Finlayson, the man who later became her husband.
While her area of studies is still unknown, it is clear that she has invested quite deeply in communication, media, or even the health sciences.
Career
Author and Advocate
Kellie’s life took a drastic turn when she was diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer at the age of 25. Having the option of leading a life in privacy, she instead ended up using her voice to educate people. In 2025, she is set to release her memoir, There Must Be More, in which she reflects on her life living with cancer, being a mother, and trying desperately to find meaning when everything is shrouded in confusion.
Podcaster
Kellie is a co-host of the famous podcast “Sh!t Talkers” together with Sophia Jai. The show goes into greater depths about health, identity, parenting, relationships and even living with an illness. Using humour and hard but necessary societal norms through boring conversations while still being entertaining, Kellie uses this platform to unlock challenging discussions on topics that need them.
Public Speaker and Cancer Awareness Campaigner
Kellie campaigns for the advocacy of early detection of bowel cancer as an ambassador for the Jodi Lee Foundation. She attends and speaks at both corporate and school events, working with multiple health organisations throughout Australia. Bowel cancer is an urgent concern for the younger population, who tend to ignore the warning signs just because of their age, which makes the issue worse.
Personal Life
Love Story with Jeremy Finlayson
Kellie met AFL footballer Jeremy Finlayson after returning from her European travels. Their relationship quickly flourished, built on mutual respect and shared values.
In 2021, shortly after giving birth to their daughter, Kellie was diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer—a diagnosis that turned their world upside down.
Through her darkest moments, Jeremy remained her constant. The couple married in March 2023, a ceremony filled with love and raw emotion. Their bond has since become a symbol of enduring love, particularly under pressure.
Daughter: Sophia
Kellie and Jeremy share a daughter, Sophia, who was born in 2021. Sophia has become a light in Kellie’s life and one of the main reasons she continues to fight so fiercely.
Her role as a mother is at the heart of everything she does—from writing and speaking to raising awareness about terminal illness. Kellie often shares heartfelt moments with Sophia on social media, painting a picture of joy, innocence, and the preciousness of time.
An Unexpected Diagnosis
Kellie began experiencing health concerns shortly after Sophia’s birth, which were first ascribed to postpartum recovery. However, these problems continued, prompting additional medical attention. She shared on Instagram about her health condition and battled with Bowel Cancer.
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Social Media Presence
Kellie Finlayson remains active on multiple social media accounts, where she continues to document her journey.
- Instagram (@kelliefinlayson_): Over 67.4K people follow Kellie on Instagram, where she shares updates on her health, family life, and advocacy work. She also shares touching posts about her daughter and love notes to her husband. In addition, she captures behind-the-scenes moments from her surgeries and treatments.
- TikTok (@kelliefinlayson_): On TikTok, where she has more than 26.1K followers, Kellie shares short videos that include everything from personal anecdotes to motivational clips. Candid storytelling helps Kellie connect with the audience and encourage them through humour.
To an extent, social media has helped scale her life advocacy and build a community to support her simultaneously.
Net Worth
There is no information available regarding how Kellie Finlayson accrued her wealth, but it is believed that her revenue stems from multiple sources:
- Revenue from book publications
- Earnings from her podcast
- Business sponsorships and partnerships
- Public speaking
- Advocacy partnerships (e.g., Jodi Lee Foundation)
Kellie Finlayson’s work is entirely purpose-driven; profit is far from her mind. She aims to change lives, improve health literacy, and ensure that she leaves an awareness and impact legacy.
Final Words
Kellie Finlayson’s story does not begin and end with an illness. Rather, her tenacity, bravery, love for her family, and commitment to helping others have shown a different side of her. From selfless acts as a mother to advocating for bowel cancer awareness and many other cancer awareness initiatives, she has managed to inspire people from all over Australia and the globe.
Her journey serves as an important reminder of life’s fragility, but also its beauty. Even beyond moments of doubt, through treatments and surgeries, Kellie Finlayson continues to show up and be present, not just for herself, but for the thousands who look to her story for hope.
