When you ask an eleven-year-old boy what they would like to raise money for, most might dream of new bikes, skateboards, cricket bats or video games. But for 11-year-old Ben Sumpter, the answer is a cure for brain cancer.
Ben’s journey into fundraising was sparked by his late grandpa, Jeff Trevaskis, being diagnosed with terminal stage 4 brain cancer while vacationing in Canada. In moments of a cancer diagnosis, helplessness often prevails, but rather than succumbing to anger at the unfairness of his grandpa’s diagnosis, Ben chose to be proactive.
Witnessing his grandpa endure treatment and lose his hair motivated Ben to shave his own head, and any initial apprehensions Ben had about his appearance soon vanished. “I wanted to help raise awareness and do something for my grandpa,” Ben told us.
Jeff, who was a cherished mathematics teacher at Greater Shepperton Secondary College, is described by Ben as a kind, humorous man, and a mad Magpies supporter.
Ben initially aimed to raise $100 for brain cancer research, but thanks to the overwhelming support he has received from the community, Ben now aims to raise $20,000 – a goal that he is well on his way to achieving.
Brain cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in both children and adults under 40 in Australia. With approximately 1900 Australians diagnosed annually, and 1500 losing their lives to the disease each year, the vital need for ongoing research and support is clear.
Researchers at WEHI and The Brain Cancer Centre are collaborating to stop brain cancer from being a terminal illness. By using advanced diagnostics, developing new models to understand resistance, and investigating novel ways to treat brain cancer, researchers are working to improve the diagnosis for brain cancer patients like Ben’s late grandpa Jeff.
