The family of Australian singer Courtney Murphy – best known for getting to third place on the second season of Australian Idol – have announced that he’s been diagnosed with advanced-stage bowel cancer and requires urgent treatment, leaving him out of work “for the foreseeable future”.
His brothers, Chris and Kieran Murphy, shared the announcement via a GoFundMe fundraising campaign. “Our beautiful brother Courtney Murphy is in for the fight of his life,” Murphy’s brothers wrote in the fundraiser’s description.
“It is with heavy hearts that we share Court has been diagnosed with advanced stage bowel cancer. It’s very serious.”
Adding to the news of Murphy’s diagnosis, his brothers revealed that their father passed away 12 weeks ago from a brain tumour.
The statement continued, “As a self-employed musician with a wife and three young children, Courtney will not be able to work for the foreseeable future which leaves his young family fighting much harder than we want them to be.
“Anyone who knows Courtney knows that his heart is as a big as his voice and we’ve set up this GoFundMe page in the hope that we can ease some of the burden on his young family.
“Any funds generated will go directly to Courtney Murphy, his wife Jane and children as they navigate the difficult road ahead.”
If you’d like to contribute to the GoFundMe campaign for Courtney Murphy or share it with your friends, follow this link.
As well as appearing on Idol screens—Murphy came third to Anthony Callea and the 2004 winner, Casey Donovan—Murphy is also known as the singer of Perth bands Murphy’s Lore and The Murphy Brothers and appeared in the Queen musical We Will Rock You.
At the time of publication, the GoFundMe campaign has raised $64,572.
Casey Donovan urged Instagram followers to give to Murphy and “help if you can” and tagged Murphy in her post, sending “the biggest love and strength to you, Jane and the kids”.
