DCWC proudly supports the RCD Foundation

The Robert Connor Dawes (RCD) Foundation was established in June 2013 to honour the memory of Robert ‘Connor’ Dawes, who sadly passed away at the age of 18 after battling brain cancer for 16 months. The foundation is committed to supporting projects related to brain health, including research, care, and development. Its goal is to fund scientific research to discover a cure for paediatric brain cancer while providing interim support to patients.

Each year, DCWC participates in Connor's Run and also provides an annual donation of $10,000 to the RCD Foundation.

The foundation operates in both Australia and the US, focusing on a disease that claims more children's lives than any other. The RCD Foundation funds crucial research projects aimed at improving treatment options, as well as offering support to young patients through at-home rehabilitation programs such as music therapy. Additionally, the foundation aims to inspire and fund the next generation of brain cancer practitioners and researchers through various development initiatives.

Despite the devastating impact of brain cancer on children, it remains severely underfunded. With few effective treatments available, 80% of children diagnosed with high-grade tumours lose their battle within five years. Survival rates have seen little improvement over the past 30 years, underscoring the urgent need for significant change.

RCD's three pillars of support:

Research Brain tumour research is on the verge of exciting breakthroughs. We want to enable researchers to further understand and better treat brain tumours, including earlier detection, surgery and post-surgery treatments (radiation, chemotherapy and immunotherapy).
Care Supporting young people with in-home rehabilitation therapies. Throughout his last year, Connor had weekly music and yoga therapy on top of his standard rehabilitation. These therapies are emotionally invaluable and provide comfort to both the patient and the family.
Development Inspiring the next generation of brain cancer practitioners and researchers. Through awareness programs, PhD Scholarships and youth engagement activities, we're putting brain matters on the map.

A key research initiative launched in early 2024 is their Brain Cancer Vaccine Project in partnership with The University of Queensland. UQ has committed over $1.2 million to develop a brain cancer vaccine, following advancements in mRNA vaccine technology. With in-kind support from the University and a total project investment of approximately $2.4 million over a three-year period, it is the first of its kind to apply technology to treat paediatric brain cancer.

Let's hope they make a breakthrough 🧡 Learn more about the RCD Foundation.