NRL Beanie Round brings brain cancer fundraising to $4 million

BY ALEXANDRA REES

The Mark Hughes Foundation has raised $4 million so far in this year's NRL Beanie for Brain Cancer campaign this week.

With donations still coming in, the campaign has surpassed the foundations initial aim to raise $3 million from the purchase of a foundation beanie.

MHF Founder Mark Hughes says the donations will go a long way to help brain cancer research.

"This year our thoughts are first and foremost with the families that have been through the brain cancer journey and lost a loved one," he said.

"There's now four million dollars going direct to brain cancer research because of every Australian that chose to make a difference this week."

A total of 170,000 beanies have been sold so far and are on track to sell out next week. 

NRL CEO Andrew Abdo says this moment wouldn't be possible without help from the community. 

"This round has been a great example of the game coming together to make a positive difference," he said.

"Thank you to everyone in the community for contributing and congratulations to the Mark Hughes Foundation on this years achievements. 

"Together we are raising awareness and raising funds to enable research to fight brain cancer and help save lives."

The Foundation also announced plans to launch a $25 million MHF Centre for Brain Cancer Research at the University of Newcastle. 

 

The dedicated space for brain cancer would see researchers come together under one roof to collaborate and find a cure. 

 

University of Newcastle Announces New Brain Cancer Research Centre

BY OLIVIA DILLON

The University of Newcastle is taking a step towards finding a cure for brain cancer, with the announcement of a new research centre. 

The Mark Hughes Foundation Centre for Brain Cancer Research builds on the existing partnership between the Mark Hughes Foundation (MHF) and the University, with MHF having now committed over $15 million over five years to establish a dedicated research team and centre. 

A $10 million contribution from the University makes the centre a $25 million philanthropic investment. 

Bringing in colleagues from HMRI and the local heath district, as well as a national network of experts in the field, the centre will drive critical research, education, and health care improvements for brain cancer patients across the country, as well as their families and carers, and heath professionals. 

Professor Michael Fay will join the University as the MHF Foundation Chair in Brain Cancer and as Director of the Mark Hughes Foundation Centre for Brain Cancer Research, bringing with him extensive experience in brain cancer research and medical and radiation oncology. 

He said his team of researchers has already begun work to improve outcomes for brain cancer patients.

"There's a whole lot of different streams of research being done at the moment, for instance, developing new tests and new types of imaging for brain cancer. We want to translate these into patients as quickly as we can, so, take them out of the laboratory and into the clinical arena where we hope they can be used for patient benefit," Professor Fay said. 

"The problem with high-grade brain cancer, or glioblastoma, is that the outlook hasn't really changed in 20 years. Lots of things have been tried- chemotherapy was brought in during the early 2000's- but things really haven't improved much and for a lot of these patients, the outcomes are really poor."

A previous recipient of the MHF HMRI Clinical Research Fellowship, Professor Fay said the Foundation's commitment to the cause was inspiring.  

"I'm just delighted by the ongoing support from the Foundation and I think all of the brain cancer researchers locally would feel the same way," he said. 

"The fight against brain cancer is an urgent one and the establishment of a dedicated brain cancer research centre further cements our commitment to helping solve this devastating disease. My ambition is to advance brain cancer research and achieve the greatest impact for brain cancer patients and their families". 

Kirralee Hughes, Mark Hughes, Professor Alex Zelinsky, and Professor Elizabeth Sullivan

Mark Hughes Foundation Joins Forces with Hunter Researchers to Trial Brain Cancer Support Forum

BY TAHLIA HALE

Mental health researchers at the Hunter Medical Research Institute and the University of Newcastle have developed a new online forum to help brain cancer patients and their families and friends find support.

With a grant from the Mark Hughes Foundation (MHF), the MHF Breathing Space app offers cancer patients, friends, and family members a safe space to access support from mental health professionals and people with lived experience of brain cancer.

MHF co-founder Mark Hughes says while his family were a big support when he was diagnosed with brain cancer, he still wondered, "Who was there for them?"

"This app will provide access to a vital online community that families and friends who are going through the brain cancer journey also need," Mr Hughes said.

The trial for MHF Breathing Space is looking to recruit 100 people to join and experience the app so it can be refined ahead of its launch to a wider audience.

The app is just one part of a larger research project from a team of mental health professionals which will help develop an online program to offer support and strategies for coping with the broader affects of brain cancer.

MHF co-founder Kirralee Hughes wants the MHF Breathing Space app to provide a safe and supportive online space for the family and friends of people with brain cancer.

"It's a really lonely place when someone's first diagnosed or when they do pass away from brain cancer," Mr Hughes said.

"You sometimes think you're the only person in the world that it going through what you're going through."

Breathing Space has already been trialed over the past month with people of the brain cancer community, some who have lost someone and some who are carers of those recently diagnosed.

"It's a space where carers can go on, like social media, but its a private site - you have to be a carer for or a family friend of someone diagnosed - where you can just talk about anything," Ms Hughes said.

"You can get on [the forum] and share your feelings, ask questions, and, because its other people who have gone through or are going through the same emotions that you're going through, a lot of people are finding that it helps that they're not the only one going through it."

Breathing Space is available to eligible users via the Apple Store and Google Play.

MHF Co-Founder Mark Hughes. 

Knights Old Boys Reach Everest Base Camp!

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

Fulfilling their goal in just nine days of trekking, a team of former Newcastle Knights players have reached Mount Everest Base Camp.

Former Knights stars including Kurt and Matt Gidley, Matty Johns, Danny Buderus, Paul 'Chief' Harragon and Mark Hughes made up the team, who got off to a nervous start in Nepal after their luggage was lost at the airport.

It was all uphill from there- literally- as they scaled to an altitude of 5380 metres; 20 years on from another momentous occasion in Knights' history- the 1997 premiership victory.

The team completed the trek in the name of brain cancer research, with a total sum of $448, 125 raised so far for the Mark Hughes Foundation.

Large contributions were made from sponsors NIB and Adam MacDougall's The Man Shake, however, the tally falls just short of the Foundation's original $500,000 fundraising target.

Mark Hughes says he's very proud of the team, who battled the effects of altitude to conquer the task.

It's expected they will return home fit and healthy.

To donate to the MHF Everest Challenge, head to the Mark Hughes Foundation website.

We did it!!!!!!! 28 our of 28 blokes made it! Unbelievable experience. Very challenging physically & mentally. @MarkHughesFdn #mhfeverest 🇳🇵 pic.twitter.com/MOVc2jaYq6

— Kurt Gidley (@kurt_gidley) October 24, 2017