Meet the brave kids taking part in 86K for a Cure!
Every month in Australia, 86 kids are diagnosed with cancer, and sadly, 12 of these children won't survive. And for those who survive, life is never the same again. Not only do they deal with the ever-present threat of the cancer returning, they also face the prospect of serious long-term health problems caused by the very treatment that saved their life.
Charlie, Scout and Chloe will be conquering 86km with YOU to help other children diagnosed with cancer.
Register to show your support for these brave kids, and help end childhood cancer once and for all, because every child deserves the chance to grow up, chase their dreams and fulfil their potential.
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Introducing Scout
Just over a week after Scout was born her dad, Sean, noticed her head looked swollen. An MRI at Sydney Children’s Hospital revealed that Scout had a tumour in her brain, and the newborn immediately underwent an 8-hour surgery to remove it.
Scout was enrolled on the Zero Childhood Cancer Program (ZERO), and scans revealed the devastating diagnosis to her terrified parents: she had an aggressive type of brain cancer known as a high-grade glioma with a gene mutation called ALK fusion.
After 7 months of chemotherapy had failed to shrink Scout’s tumour, the ZERO team’s lab tests led to an exciting new treatment option; an ALK inhibitor called alectinib.
“It was like a switch. From stopping chemo to starting the trial, it was like she was a completely different child”, says Sean.
In January 2024, scans showed Scout’s tumour had shrunk by 30%, and by March confirmed it was stable. Today, the treatment continues to hold Scout’s cancer at bay and the baby girl is doing so much better. This is the power of research.
“When your child is sick, it's the research that gives you that little bit of hope to hold onto." - Sean, Scout's Dad
Introducing Charlie
In 2022, when he was just 2 years old, Charlie was diagnosed with Group 4 Medulloblastoma, an aggressive type of brain cancer which has very limited treatment options.
Over the next few months, Charlie underwent an intensive course of high-dose chemotherapy, a stem cell rescue, and six weeks of high-risk spine and brain radiation, requiring daily general anaesthetics.
Thankfully, Charlie responded well to treatment, though he faces lasting side effects, including hearing loss and speech difficulties, and has had to relearn how to walk. He also needs regular MRI scans, as this type of cancer has a high rate of reoccurrence. Patients often relapse within a few months of treatment completion.
This is why we need to keep raising funds for vital childhood cancer research, to help us pioneer safer, more targeted treatments for children with cancer, and ultimately find a cure, once and for all.
This March, Charlie's family are conquering 86K for a Cure, to help raise funds for vital childhood cancer research to prevent other families from going through what they've been through.
Introducing Chloe
“Childhood cancer is affecting so many people's lives, and so many families go through even worse than what we went through. We have to do better, not just for the kids, but for the families.
This is not rare. We need more money to get better treatments, better outcomes, and better quality of life. Every dollar counts.”- Melissa, Chloe's Mum
This March, Chloe and her family are conquering 86K for a Cure, to help raise funds for vital childhood cancer research to help all kids with cancer enjoy a happy, healthy and long life.
