As we look back on our first year of partnership with QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, we’re filled with gratitude and pride for what we’ve accomplished together. This collaboration has been mutually beneficial in raising awareness of brain cancer and encouraging its prevention, detection and treatment.
Our shared vision
Finding a cure for brain cancer is a cause very close to our hearts. The CEO of Airtrain, Chris Bache, has been courageously battling a brain tumour for more than 20 years, including several neurosurgeries and courses of radiation therapy and chemotherapy. While the medical expertise available to brain cancer patients in Australia second-to-none, survival rates in that time have barely improved, highlighting the desperate need for more research.
QIMR Berghofer is the largest medical institute in Queensland, with a world-class cancer program that has made great advances in its work to improve the understanding, diagnosis and treatment of a range of deadly cancers including brain cancer. The dedicated medical researchers have a strong focus on adult and paediatric brain cancer, with researchers dedicated to improving patient outcomes for various forms of the disease including glioblastoma, medulloblastoma and diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG).
On a mission to find a cure for brain cancer and in awe of the incredible work done by QIMR Berghofer, we decided to partner with them to promote their work and raise much-needed funds for brain cancer research.
Key milestones
Some of the key milestones from the first year of our partnership with QIMR Berghofer include:
- Raising more than $37,500 in donations that has funded further brain cancer research at QIMR Berghofer.
- Developing an innovative new online booking form that allows passengers to make a $1 donation at the time of booking their Airtrain tickets.
- Placing donation boxes for loose change donations at the ticket booths at Airtrain stations at Brisbane Domestic and International terminals.
- Accepting donations of go card balances at the ticket booths at Airtrain stations at Brisbane Domestic and International terminals.
- Raising community awareness of brain cancer through regular social media and email marketing and engagement.
We’ve also celebrated exciting new developments made by the medical researchers at QIMR Berghofer, including a groundbreaking immunotherapy for aggressive brain cancer.
Looking ahead
Our partnership with QIMR Berghofer has been a rewarding journey filled with positive impact, and we are excited to continue this collaboration and raise more funds for life-saving brain cancer research.
We’ve come a long way in one year, but there’s still a long way to go when it comes to finding a cure for brain cancer. Brain cancer is the sixth leading cause of cancer burden in Australia. While survival rates for many other cancers have increased over the last 30 years, survival rates for brain tumours have barely improved.
You can help to transform lives by showing your support for the work undertaken by QIMR Berghofer. When you book your Airtrain ticket online via the Booking Form you can tick the donation box. 100% of the donations received go directly to fund brain cancer research. You can also donate directly to QIMR Berghofer via their donation page.
Together, we can make an impact in finding a cure for brain cancer.
