$100 million National Brain Cancer Mission a huge victory
AFTER years of heartbreak, a $100 million, 10-year program has arrived to fund research into the childhood killer seriously for the first time in decades.
NSW
Don't miss out on the headlines from NSW. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Herpes treatment could cure deadliest of brain cancers
- Child brain cancer funding loses out to other projects
- Brain cancer nurse climbs mountain to help save kids
- ‘Little Boy Brave’ still battling after five long years
AFTER years of heartbreak, there is finally hope for brain cancer with a $100 million, 10-year program to seriously fund research into this childhood killer for the first time in decades.
The Sunday Telegraph can exclusively reveal the National Brain Cancer Mission will see the federal government, the charity Cure Brain Cancer and mining magnate Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest collaborate to seriously attack this most deadly of cancers.
Billionaire and Fortescue metals group CEO Mr Forrest said his $10 million commitment from his Minderoo Foundation’s Eliminate Cancer Initiative would be available immediately to kickstart the mission.
Mr Forrest said this is a victory in his quest to get the federal government to fund brain cancer, the number one disease killer of children and young people.
The Sunday Telegraph has also been campaigning for two months for the federal government to step up and make brain cancer, specifically paediatric brain cancer, a research priority.
Mr Forrest recently lost friend and colleague Tim Elliot, 52, to brain cancer and pledged he would do everything in his power to address the lack of research.
“We need to get someone else to double it or quadruple our commitment.”
“We have worked the government over on brain cancer, we pushed government hard, we’ve called for the $100 million fund, the government is going to put in $50 million over time but our $10 million is money in the bank straight away,” he said.
Decades of poor funding for research into the killer disease has ensured survival rates remain at a devastating low, with only one in five children making it to five years post-diagnosis.
Those that survive are rarely left unscathed.
Approximately 1600 people are diagnosed each year and between 35 and 40 children die.
“Brain cancer is more or less a death sentence to just about anyone that gets it and the dial hasn’t moved and I’ve had people suffer severely from brain cancer,” Mr Forrest said.
“I can’t imagine anything more devastating than to be told that your child, not only has cancer but the deadliest form of all, brain cancer — a disease that, right now, claims a busload of children’s lives across Australia.”
The government said its $50 million pledge will be funded through the Medical Research Future Fund, or $5 million a year with a combined commitment of $20 million to be raised from the Cure Brain Cancer Foundation.
“We have a huge task ahead.”
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said the government would match “dollar for dollar” every donation up to $50 million and called on other Australians and industry to donate the remaining $20 million to achieve the mission funding target.
“We must do everything we can to not only defeat this terrible disease but to provide a better life for those currently suffering and their families. We want any Australian with brain cancer to have the opportunity to participate in potentially life-saving clinical trials,” Mr Turnbull said.
Mr Forrest also threw down the challenge to other billionaires and companies to match his commitment.
“We need to get someone else to double it or quadruple our commitment,” Mr Forrest said.
The first allocation of funding will support a trial for Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM), a form of brain cancer that is universally fatal.
Mr Forrest flew some of the world’s best research brains into Australia for a discussion with Health Minister Greg Hunt, parents and Cure Brain Cancer in August to map out a plan to tackle brain cancer. His friend Tim Elliot attended to give a patient perspective.
“We took him to the brain cancer round table and he died two days later. I still find it difficult,” an emotional Mr Forrest said.
“I think it’s amazing given the funding has been so low for so long.”
Paediatric oncologist Professor David Ziegler said this was a “game changer” and he hoped it was just the beginning of brain cancer getting the investment and recognition it deserved.
“Yes, I think it’s a good start and we don’t want to undermine it but this is the beginning, not the end, we need more. We still have children we have no treatment for and it’s responsible for more deaths than any other disease and it has been neglected, but let’s hope this is just the beginning of an increase in investment into research because, as clinicians, we come up with the ideas but we need to funding to make it a reality,” Prof Ziegler said.
Michelle Stewart, CEO of Cure Brain Cancer agreed.
“We have a huge task ahead and, until we find a cure, no amount of money will be enough, so we must continue to raise funds for world-class research to accelerate treatments to Australian children and adults with brain cancer,” she said.
Associate Professor Kerry McDonald said the mission is “what we have been looking for so long and, if the money is spent in Australia on clinical trials that will be enough to challenge the survival rates. I think it’s amazing given the funding has been so low for so long.”
When 16-year-old brain cancer survivor Jacob Trzecinski met Mr Forrest on Friday, he shared his wish with the billionaire that he aimed to raise $1000 at the upcoming Manly Walk 4 Brain Cancer in November.
Mr Forrest urged him to think bigger and threw down a challenge the teen could not refuse.
“He said I should set a goal for $100,000 and if I get that he will match every dollar with $2, so if I raise $100,000 he’ll donate $200,000,” Jacob said.
“I’m just blown away, it’s fantastic,” he said.
To help Jacob reach his goal donate at www.curebraincancer.org.au/news/1509/why-jacob-is-walking-4-brain-cancer