May is brain cancer awareness month – a time to come together and show support for people living with, or supporting a loved one through, brain cancer. Brain cancer is a diverse group of diseases, with more than 100 different types of brain tumours, lesions and cysts. The sheer number of variants and the complex nature of the brain makes this form of cancer particularly challenging to treat. Go Grey in May is an initiative that seeks to improve public education and discourse, raise awareness and shine a light on a patient population that is often overlooked.
Australians living with brain cancer
Staggering statistics show the huge toll that brain cancer takes on the lives of Australians:
- Each year, more than 2,000 Australians are diagnosed with brain cancer.
- Brain cancer is most common in children under 15 and adults over 65, with the average age of diagnosis being 59.
- Brain cancer is the ninth most common cause of cancer death.
- Brain cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in children aged 0 to 14 years.
- Individuals diagnosed with brain cancer have a 23% chance of surviving for five years.
- Of the Australians diagnosed with Glioblastoma Multiforme, the most common form of malignant brain cancer, less than 5% will survive beyond five years.
Partnership with QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
In December 2023, Airtrain partnered with QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute to promote their incredible work and raise much-needed funds for brain cancer research. This is a cause very close to our hearts, with the CEO of Airtrain, Chris Basche, having been courageously battling a brain tumour for more than two decades.
In the realm of medical challenges, there are few adversaries as formidable as brain cancer. Brain cancers can be complex, aggressive and evade treatment. Trying to treat this complex disease is made all the more challenging due to the delicate and intricate nature of the human brain.
The world-leading medical researchers at QIMR Berghofer research multiple approaches to understand how and why brain cancers resist treatment that is effective for other types of cancer, in order to develop more effective treatments and find a cure for this horrible disease.
Show your support this May
This Grey May, raise funds and spread awareness to make lasting change for the brain cancer community. Here are some ways you can show your support:
- Book your Airtrain tickets online: When you book your Airtrain tickets online via the Booking Form you can tick the donation box – all donations go directly toward life-saving brain cancer research at QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute.
- Donate your unused go card balance: Donate leftover funds on your go card at Airtrain Domestic and International stations – see our friendly staff or drop into one of the collection boxes at the station ticket offices.
- Follow, like, share and post on your social media accounts: Follow key organisations like QIMR Berghofer, The Brain Cancer Centre, Cure Brain Cancer Foundation, NeuroSurgical Research Foundation and The Kids’ Cancer Project. You can ‘like’ and ‘share’ their posts to increase engagement, or use their specially developed social media times to post from your own account.
- Buy official merch: Organisations like the NeuroSurgical Research Foundation are selling items you can wear, such as badges and beanies, to raise awareness and spark conversations about brain cancer research.
Together, we can make an impact in finding a cure for brain cancer.
