Brain cancer survivor Eliza Norton
The fourth annual Walk4BrainCancer Tasmania is being held Sunday, 5 November 2017 at Dru Point Bicentennial Park in Margate.
The previous three walks, organised by Labor Senator and brain cancer survivor Catryna Bilyk, have so far raised more than $80,000 for Cure Brain Cancer Foundation.
Senator Bilyk, who was diagnosed with and treated for two brain tumours in 2008, said that her experience had motivated her to find out more about the disease.
“When I spoke to brain cancer organisations and other brain cancer survivors, what I found shocked me,” Senator Bilyk said.
“I learnt that not only does brain cancer kill more young Australians aged 18-40 than any other cancer, but it also kills more Australian children than any other disease.
“Every year, the equivalent of a classroom full of children loses their lives to brain cancer.”
While brain cancer is one of the less common forms of cancer, these harrowing statistics are owed to its low survival rate.
Only 22 percent of Australians diagnosed with brain cancer—a little over 1 in 5—survive for five years after their diagnosis.
“Looking at the amazing advances in cancer research and treatment in Australia, and considering that survival rates for some forms of cancer have improved dramatically, has made me determined to do something to improve the survival rates for more deadly forms of cancer—and brain cancer in particular.”
In December last year, Senator Bilyk successfully pushed for the establishment of a Senate Select Committee to inquire into funding for research into cancers with low survival rates.
With Senator Bilyk now serving as Chair, the Committee has held hearings around Australia and is due to report to the Senate in November.
Six Tasmanian witnesses will be addressing the Committee’s next Melbourne hearing from 2pm on Friday, 4 August 2017.
“So many of the personal stories received by the Committee are about brain cancer,” Senator Bilyk said. “Through that, and the walk, I have heard of so many tragedies of people losing their loved ones to this disease.
“The worst stories are those about children—some as young as six or seven, or even infants.
“It is for the sake of these people—especially the children—that I am working hard to raise funds, and to do what I can to end this insidious disease.”
The recipient of Walk4BrainCancer’s fundraising, Cure Brain Cancer Foundation, was founded by renowned neurosurgeon Professor Charlie Teo AM in 2001 to fund new and innovative treatments that will help improve the survival rate for brain cancer.
Each year Walk4BrainCancer typically raises over $1 million nationally.
Last year’s walk at Dru Point had over 300 participants and raised over $44,000.
Anyone interested in participating in this year’s walk can register online at www.walk4braincancer.com.au/events/79/w4bc-tasmania-2017
News and updates about the walk are available through the walk’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Walk4BrainCancerTas.
SENATOR CATRYNA BILYK SENATOR FOR TASMANIA
