The Project host Carrie Bickmore uses her Logie acceptance speech to call for a greater awareness of brain cancer.

CARRIE Bickmore not only won in the fashion stakes last night, she walked away with two Logies — including the coveted Gold — and captured the hearts of the nation in the process.

The 34-year-old Project host chose to use her two minute acceptance speech to talk about something particularly close to her heart, dedicating the award to her late husband Greg, who died of brain cancer in 2010.

But she revealed to Today Show this morning that it almost didn’t happen.

“I almost didn’t do it,” she said. “There was a minute before where I thought, ‘Nup, don’t do it,’ because it’s such a downer for a room full of people who were so happy and so excited and then at the last minute I thought, ‘I’m just going to do it’ and I’m so glad I did.”

During her speech last night Bickmore, who stunned on the red carpet, pulled a bright blue beanie and placed it on her head as she spoke of her desire to raise awareness about the disease, which she says kills eight out of ten people who are diagnosed.

“Everyone thinks it’s this rare form of cancer, it is not.

“It kills more people under forty (than any other cancer) — and that’s a lot of you in this room.

“It kills more kids than any other disease.

“In 2010 my husband Greg was one of the unlucky ones. And after a long, long, long battle he died from brain cancer.

“Over ten years I watched him suffer multiple seizures a day, lose feeling down one side of his body.”

Bickmore said the couple’s three-year-old son Ollie had to push him around in his wheelchair because he couldn’t walk anymore.

“He was an incredibly brave man, he was a great dad,” she added, holding back tears. “He was a great husband and a great brother. And he was a great friend. But he shouldn’t have had to go through that. No one should have to go through that. And that’s why I want to talk about it tonight.

“Throughout his cancer journey he used to wear a lot of hats — he used to wear a lot of beanies. And that was because he felt embarrassed about his scars and his head. And I used to say to him: ‘Don’t be embarrassed, scars are really, really cool’. And beanies are also really cool.”

Bickmore then called on “anyone who works in TV” to don a beanie tomorrow.



“I want to ask anybody that’s on TV in Australia tomorrow to whack on a beanie I want to get the nation talking about brain cancer — it receives next to no funding which is ludicrous. Because without funding more people are going to die and as I just said eight out of 10 people that are diagnosed will die from this disease. So anyone — Sam, Kochie, Karl, Lisa — whoever’s on TV tomorrow whack on a beanie if you’re going to school tomorrow, kids, put a beanie on. If you’re going to work put a beanie on. Take a pic of yourself with the hashtag ‘Beanies For Brain Cancer’.

“And I know that people watch TV and they think that we’re just faces who get to spend hours in hair and makeup and have these really awesome jobs but we also have our own stories and our own challenges. And for me, work has been an incredible escape, an incredible outlet for me over many, many, many years and I want to dedicate this award tonight to anyone that’s going through a really shit time right now. Anyone that’s supporting someone through a really tough time right now. Please believe that there will be a brighter day for you. Please believe that.”

Finally she summed up her night by saying:“You’ll see me on the dancefloor.”

Richard Wilkins who closed the evening’s telecast said: “Congratulations to Carrie, what a wonderful speech and I know I speak for everyone in the room in giving a heartfelt thanks to Carrie.”

Stars including Delta Goodrem, who recovered from her own battle with cancer were left in tears.

Backstage after her speech, Bickmore said she decided to use her time on stage to talk about something she really cared bout.

“I thought, you know what, if I get the chance to have two minutes at the end to say something, rather than bang on about my job and how much I love it I thought, I’ll just use the two minutes to talk about something that was important and close to my heart.”

Bickmore, who also took out Most Popular Presenter had been nominated for the Gold Logie three times before.

Her heartfelt speech won much applause from the audience and fans who took to social media to praise the mum of two.

The most genuine, positive and real speech I've ever heard at a celeb awards night.. Well done @BickmoreCarrie #amazing #mademecry #logies — cindy (@littlebillo) May 3, 2015

Carrie Bickmore is a dead set champion! Gold Logie speech beautifully hijacked for a wonderful cause #CarrieBickmore @BickmoreCarrie #Logies — Aaron Schmitzer (@smitty92) May 3, 2015

Have to say the winners used their 2 mins wisely tonight. Race representation on TV , Nepal and brain cancer all getting a platform #Logies — Rachael Lonergan (@RachaelHasIdeas) May 3, 2015

The television presenter beat out Asher Keddie, Andy Lee, Hamish Blake, Scott Cam and Steve Peacocke to take out the award.

The Project co-host gave birth to her second child, daughter Evie with her partner Chris Walker, just six weeks ago — and will return to the news desk in June.

THE FULL LIST OF WINNERS:

LOGIES WINNERS — POPULAR

GOLD LOGIE FOR MOST POPULAR TV PERSONALITY

Carrie Bickmore, The Project (Channel 10)

MOST POPULAR LIGHT ENTERTAINMENT

Hamish and Andy’s Gap Year South America (Channel 9)

Hamish Blake “It’s been an honour to make popular entertainment. We will never stray into outstanding, I promise.”

MOST POPULAR DRAMA PROGRAM

Home and Away (Channel 7)

MOST POPULAR ACTOR

Steve Peacocke, Home and Away (Channel 7)

“I want to thank our fans. Everything we do on the show is with you in mind.”

MOST POPULAR COMEDY PROGRAM

Utopia (ABC)

Rob Sitch “I know it’s every network’s dream to have a show about infrastructure.”

MOST POPULAR ACTRESS

Asher Keddie, Offspring and Party Tricks (Channel 10)

“It should be someone else’s turn this year but I’ll take it, thank you.”

MOST POPULAR PRESENTER

Carrie Bickmore, The Project (Channel 10)

“Chris (partner), thank you for showing me there can be light at the end of a long road.”

MOST POPULAR SPORTS PROGRAM

The NRL Footy Show (Channel 9)

MOST POPULAR LIFESTYLE PROGRAM

The Living Room, (Channel 10)

Amanda Keller, “From the moment we met, we fell in love with one another.”

MOST POPULAR NEW TALENT

Miranda Tapsell, Love Child (Channel 9)

“Put more beautiful people of colour on TV and connect viewers in way that transcend race.”

MOST POPULAR REALITY SHOW

The Block, (Channel 9)

Scott Cam “We hold the world record in giving away money and that’s from an Australian created-show from right here.”

LOGIES WINNERS — OUTSTANDING

MOST OUTSTANDING ACTOR

Luke Arnold, Never Tear Us Apart (Channel 7)

“This is icing on the cake for what is already a dream come true.”

MOST OUTSTANDING ACTRESS

Danielle Cormack, Wentworth (Foxtel)

“Before you stumble home three sheets to your bed, or someone else’s bed ... there’s a lot of people in the world who need our help especially in Nepal, so if you can donate through a reputable agency they really need our help right now.”

MOST OUTSTANDING NEWCOMER

Miranda Tapsell, Love Child (Channel 9)

MOST OUTSTANDING DRAMA

Wentworth (Foxtel)

MOST OUTSTANDING CHILDREN’S PROGRAM

Nowhere Boys (ABC)

MOST OUTSTANDING ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAM

The Voice (Channel 9)

Ricky Martin “I feel like another Australian up here and for that I thank you so much.”

MOST OUTSTANDING SPORTS COVERAGE

2014 FIFA World Cup (SBS)

MOST OUTSTANDING NEWS COVERAGE

Lindt Cafe siege (Channel 7)

MOST OUTSTANDING MINISERIES

The Devil’s Playground (Foxtel)

MOST OUTSTANDING PUBLIC AFFAIRS REPORT

Banking Bad, Four Corners (ABC)

MOST OUTSTANDING FACTUAL REPORT

First Contact (SBS)

TV WEEK HALL OF FAME ENTRANT

Home and Away (Channel 7)