The sixth annual Walk4BrainCancer Tasmania has been declared a success by its organiser, Senator Catryna Bilyk.
More than 250 people gathered for the two-kilometre inspirational walk at Dru Point Bicentennial Park to raise funds for the Cure Brain Cancer Foundation.
Senator Bilyk, who is a Cure Brain Cancer Ambassador, said the funds raised would help the Foundation with advocacy, awareness raising and funding research for treatments.
“Cure Brain Cancer was founded in an effort to overcome the stubbornly low survival rates for brain cancer in Australia,” Senator Bilyk said.
“While the five-year survival rate for many forms of cancer has improved significantly, for brain cancer it has remained around 20 per cent for the past few decades.
“As a result, brain cancer remains the deadliest cancer for young Australians aged under 40 and kills more Australian children than any other disease.
“It’s going to take a phenomenal effort to turn this around, which is why events like today’s walk are so important.”
In addition to the walk, participants were treated to a sausage sizzle, Cure Brain Cancer merchandise sales, a raffle and live entertainment by local musician Fiona Hutchison.
The weather was fine and sunny for most of the morning and although dark clouds gathered, the rain held off until after the walk had concluded.
Prior to the walk, a short memorial service was held and participants were encouraged to hang paper cranes from a nearby tree featuring messages of hope or tributes to loved ones.
The memorial service was led by Dr Sigrid Denehey, a clinical psychologist who worked with brain tumour patients and lost her father, Ashton Denehey, to brain cancer.
“We need to do better when it comes to this disease,” said Dr Denehey.
“Although we’ve been making incredible progress in recent years in terms of raising funds and awareness, we still have a mountain to climb.”
CAP: Dr Sigrid Denehey, Walk4BrainCancer organiser and cancer survivor Senator Catryna Bilyk and Head of Advocacy for the Cure Brain Cancer Foundation Annabelle Wilson had fun using the ‘selfie frame’ at the sixth annual Walk4BrainCancer event on Sunday, November 3. More photos will appear in the November 19 editon of the Kingborough Chronicle.
