Australian woman with terminal cancer is auctioning off her final moments to strangers

Imagine auctioning off something as precious as time—your actual, remaining time. That’s exactly what Emily Lahey, a 32-year-old Australian woman, is doing. Diagnosed with a rare and aggressive cancer called NUT carcinoma with a prognosis of typically six to nine months, Emily has turned what could be seen as a devastating situation into an empowering mission to raise awareness and funds for cancer research.

In a powerful performance art piece titled “Time to Live” taking place in Sydney this weekend, the 32-year-old is auctioning portions of her remaining time to strangers.

Emily offers visitors a chance to buy three minutes of her time—literally. People come to sit with her, talk, or just share a quiet moment. As each three-minute block ticks away on a large screen, the experience symbolises the fleeting nature of time, especially for someone battling a terminal illness.

The experience is designed to be both emotional and thought-provoking.

The money raised from each interaction goes directly to cancer research, but for Emily, it’s about more than just the funds. It’s about sparking conversations on how we value our time, and the reality faced by those living with terminal conditions.

Emily has turned what could be seen as a devastating situation into an empowering mission to raise awareness and funds for cancer research. (Pixabay)

Lahey’s journey with cancer began unexpectedly. Leading a healthy and active lifestyle before her diagnosis, she never considered cancer a possibility. However, what started with seemingly mundane symptoms like headaches and chronic sinusitis took a devastating turn when she began losing vision in one eye. Doctors discovered a large mass in her sinuses and skull, roughly the size of a cricket ball.

“I never thought cancer was a possibility,” she shared with 7NEWS.com.au, talking about how she used to run 5-10 kilometres daily before her diagnosis at 27.

This rare cancer proved resistant to standard chemotherapy treatments, leaving her medical team facing difficult choices. Genetic testing offered a glimmer of hope with BET inhibitors, an experimental treatment. However, Lahey had to wait until her condition worsened to qualify for a government program providing access to this therapy.

“This has given me precious extra time that I never thought I’d have,” she shared with the Australian news outlet. “My family and I are incredibly thankful for this opportunity.”

While the future remains uncertain and doctors cannot predict how much time she has left, Lahey embraces each day with a newfound perspective. “It’s like being on a rollercoaster,” she describes, “everything comes and goes in waves. There were times when I couldn’t imagine getting through the next day. But as I go on, I’m finding some strength to look even towards the end of the year.”

Lahey’s story and her performance art piece offer a powerful reminder to cherish each moment and to support continued research in the battle against cancer.

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