For over 12 years we’ve been working towards sending brain cancer, the #1 cancer killer of young people, the way of the dinosaurs.
Currently, brain cancer kills more children than any other disease. Only five per cent survive high grade tumours and survival rates have barely changed in the last 30 years.
Brain cancer survival rate
5 year survival rate (%) from 1984 – 2013
Inspired by a big heart and brain, the RCD Foundation was created in June 2013 in the memory of our son, Robert Connor Dawes.
Connor’s brilliant mind, strong body and gentle soul faced off against an ependymoma tumour. And like many others, his brains and brawn gave it all to fight against the poor odds but on April 20, 2013, Connor’s 16 month battle ended.
MANY BRAINS are better than one
In the last 12 years, we’ve made leaps and bounds.
We’ve raised much needed awareness, engaged our community and invested
$20 million in brain cancer research, care and development programs.
Research: Contributing funds to research that will improve brain tumour treatments, including earlier detection, surgery and post-surgery treatments.
Care: Supporting families by organising and funding emotionally invaluable rehabilitation therapies and home assistance including music and yoga therapy.
Development: Inspiring the next generation of brain cancer practitioners and researchers through funding PhD Scholarships, Fellowships and youth engagement activities.
In 12 years we’ve built the biggest event for paediatric brain cancer in Australia, Connor’s Run and raised close to $20 million for brain matters.
Through fun and engaging community events we’ve built an army of passionate supporters, especially among young people. Each year Connor’s Run attracts 5,000 participants and 600 volunteers, and initiatives like Go Grey in May and Connor’s Erg engage thousands more school children, university students and workplaces.
We’re proud to be a leading voice of the brain cancer movement in Australia. Through our initiatives, advocacy and lobbying we’ve raised the profile of brain matters in Australia. Both in local communities and with the Federal Government’s Department of Health.
We know a cure won’t come from one lab or one country, which is why we’ve established a charity arm in the U.S (Connor’s birthplace) and partnered with world-leading research institutes and medical professionals from across the globe.
Your support will form the missing piece to the puzzle.
Improving survival rates requires the best minds, commitment and passion to get the job done.
That’s why we need proven leaders like you to join us in this movement. This is your invitation to be a game changer in paediatric brain cancer.
Join the 
Five projects. Five years.
Five million.
Thanks to the first five years of our Brain Trust program, we have funded five crucial
projects over five years.
$1 million
AIM BRAIN brings world-leading diagnostic testing to every child diagnosed in Australia and New Zealand. The project has resulted in improved diagnosis and treatment plans for every child facing brain cancer and has now moved
$1 million
In partnership with ANZCHOG we funded the infrastructure to support the administration of trials at Australia’s nine children’s cancer centres.
$750,000
Immunotherapy is a ground-breaking treatment that has led to significant improvements in treating other cancers. We have funded the Robert Connor Dawes Research Program at WEHI to investigate whether immunotherapy could have the same impact in childhood brain cancer.
$1 million
We’ve backed the brightest minds in brain cancer research across Australia and the US, collaborating with the Royal Children’s Hospital, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, WEHI, and CERN.CERN.
$1.25 million
Global collaborations require a research commitment to ‘carry one’s weight’, which with your support, we have funded to ensure Australian kids receive access to world-leading research. We currently have strong relationships with DFKZ in Germany, Sick Kids in Toronto, St. Jude’s in Memphis, Cambridge Oncology in the UK and Stanford University.
We have a number of projects we are currently funding and need continuous funding for, including our Brain Cancer Vaccine Project at The University of Queensland. And our new Data Project. You can learn more about what we’re funding in our most recent Impact Report.
To keep funding these projects we’re asking for $100,000 pledge over the next five years.
Your generous donation will make you an integral part of brain cancer research. And ultimately, part of the cure.
Thank you for your interest in joining the Brain Trust.
I know together we can make a real difference to young people with Brain Cancer.
Aeternum Fortis,
Liz Dawes
Connor’s Mum, CEO and Founder
Robert Connor Dawes Foundation
PS. I’ll be in touch soon to answer any questions you may have.
Ready to join us?
Learn more about us
We are a registered charity with DGR 1 status in Australia and 501c3 status in the United States meaning all donations are tax deductible.
100% of donations go towards our brain matters projects. Our expenses are covered by our RCDF events which, after expenses are covered, also fund these fantastic brain projects.
