Weekend to End Women’s Cancers raises $3.5 million

The Weekend to End Women’s Cancers announced 1,346 walkers helped raise over $3.5 million for QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute and Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital to become Queensland’s largest walk for women’s cancers on Saturday. Funds raised support life-saving research programs for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of women’s cancers at QIMR Berghofer and treatment, care, research and survivorship programs for all women’s cancers at Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital in Queensland.

“We are thrilled, grateful and inspired by this remarkable community of walkers, sponsors, volunteers and their generous donors who have helped us to make our 1st annual Weekend to End Women’s Cancers a tremendous success,” said Professor Frank Gannon, Director at QIMR Berghofer.

“A staggering one in two women in Queensland will be diagnosed with some form of cancer before the age of 85. Funds raised through The Weekend support world-leading research for women’s cancers at QIMR Berghofer as well as supporting additional research and the most advanced treatment, care and prevention programs for all women’s cancer through our colleagues at Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital here in Brisbane,” Professor Gannon added.

2013 is the inaugural Weekend event in Queensland. The annual two-day, 60km walk through Brisbane and overnight camp in Everton Park Lands draws thousands of participants, hundreds of volunteers and brings together communities of cancer survivors, walkers and their supporters who train and fundraise for months in order to participate.

“I was diagnosed with Small Cell Carcinoma of the Cervix just eight weeks after the birth of my second son in 2012,” said Tia Harris of Waterford, QLD.

“My form of cancer is rare, and the research for this cancer is underfunded. It’s my hope that the money we raise will help keep me around for many more years and will also help others to deal with this horrid disease. We have come a long way in understanding these diseases so it’s vital that we find ways to improve screening, education and treatments for all Australian women who may need it,” Mrs. Harris added.

Dr. Amanda Dines, Executive Director of the Cancer Care Service at RBWH says The Brisbane Weekend is designed to power a strategic and forward-thinking partnership that combines breakthrough research with the latest approaches to personalised cancer treatment and care.

“The world-class research underway QIMR Berghofer and RBWH is changing the way we can treat and prevent this disease,” said Dr. Dines.

“As Queensland’s largest hospital, we are the major hub for cancer care in the state. We are using these vital funds to help increase survival rates and improve the quality of life for each of the 100,000 patients we’ll treat this year. As research continues to advance in the area of personalised genetic design, our Diamond Standard of Comprehensive Cancer Care supports this movement by focussing more on individualised therapies and support for patients dealing with all women’s cancers including breast and gynaecological cancers,” Dr. Dines added.

The Brisbane Weekend start and finish takes place at Roma St Parklands, and pit stops and public cheer locations are stationed to provide walkers with food, beverages and support along the route. On Sunday, Walkers finish the 60km walk with an emotional closing ceremony at Roma St Parklands. Event organizers announced 25 and 26 October 2014 for the 2nd annual Brisbane Weekend, and opened registration to the public.

“We invite everyone here today and all Queenslanders to join us next year for our second annual Weekend to End Women’s Cancers,” Professor Gannon added.

“Registration is officially open, so please pop over to our 2014 registration tent, visit endcancer.org.au or call 1300 22 9255 to register for next year’s Brisbane Weekend,” Professor Gannon said.

Event organisers expect hundreds of people to attend public cheering stations along the route. For full event details, visit www.endcancer.org.au or call 1300 22 9255.