For those that have been following My Gungahlin for awhile will know we have been supporting and promoting the Dainere Rainbow Brain Tumour Research Fund and Benny Wills Brain Tumour Research Program. These are foundations established in memory of Dainere Anthoney and Benny Wills who were local children who both passed away from a paediatric brain tumour. These foundations have been established to support research to improve the outcomes for all children diagnosed with brain tumours.
Sadly another Canberra child has been recently diagnosed with a paediatric brain tumour. At the end of last year Annabelle Potts was diagnosed with Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG), a highly aggressive and difficult to treat brain tumor found at the base of the brain. Annabelle was rushed to the Sydney Children’s Hospital at Randwick in Sydney the same day as her diagnosis for further assessment but the prognosis is grim.
The news came as a huge shock to Annabelle’s parents Kathie and Adam who not only had to come to terms with the initial diagnosis but the fact that they will most likely lose their beautiful little girl. They will no longer be able to look forward to seeing her graduate, get married or any other milestone that those of us with healthy children often take for granted.
Now with Annabelle requiring her parents by her side Kathie and Adam are unable to work and the family are faced with increasing financial pressures because of loss of income and medical expenses. Family and friends have established a Go Fund Me account to raise money to support the family to allow Kathie and Adam to focus all their attention on spending as much quality time wiht Annablle as possible without the stress of worrying or paying the bills.
You can donate here: Annabelle Potts
Last year Mark ran the City2Surf with Dainere’s brother Jarrett as a way of raising funds for The Sydney Children’s Hospital Foundation to support the research of the devoted Dr David Ziegler and his team who are working towards improving the outcomes for all children diagnosed with brain tumours; through a comprehensive research program in the laboratory that stretches from investigating the basic biology and genetics of childhood brain tumours, identifying agents that induce a profound anti-tumour effect, safer treatment options, the implementation of novel treatment strategies in state of the art clinical trials, innovative personalised medicine, collaborations with local, national and international groups and ultimately find a cure.
This news of Annabelle is further motivation to raise more funds again this year with Mark committed to running the City2Surf again with Jarrett. Last year they raised a combined amount of $5,356.43 and hope to smash that figure this year (Mark is also hoping to smash his run time from last year too!). We will post more information on how you can support this fundraiser closer to City2Surf but in the meantime please support the Pott’s family by donating using the link above.
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