Our congratulations to Tom Bell Bird, who last week received the 2021 Cooper Rice-Brading Foundation Award from the Sydney Grammar School Cricket Club!
Traditionally, this trophy is awarded for outstanding performance in the annual Tri-Grammar tournament, which takes place between the Grammar schools from Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. In early 2017, amidst his gruelling sarcoma chemotherapy regime, Coops secured 5/20 against Melbourne Grammar, and this award acknowledges that.
Due to COVID-19, however, a Tri-Grammar tournament was not possible this year. Instead, the award was presented to the individual who best exemplified the traits Coops stood for: courage, resilience, and never being told no. Tom stood for all this and more, and was also able to construct a very tidy season with the bat, making him the obvious recipient.
We could not be more excited at CRBF to hear that our dear friend, @mollycroft_ , has been recognised at the 2021 NSW Women of the Year Awards!Molly was diagnosed with osteosarcoma on her 12th birthday, and yet just 3 years later, has become a pillar of strength and source of inspiration for Sarcoma patients both young and old.
Her commitment to spreading Sarcoma awareness, along with her tireless efforts raising funds into research, are emblematic of a drive and maturity well beyond her years.
Not only is Molly “One to Watch” – she’s been worth watching for years, and we’re so happy her efforts have been recognised!
Molly is pictured with the Hon Bronwyn Taylor, Member of the Legislative Council, Minister for Mental Health, Regional Youth and Women and
Member of The National Party.
“His memory motivated me and kept me going in the tough parts of this challenge”…
Over the last weekend, longtime school friend of Coops, @soshbehnia, completed the “Dave Goggins’ 4x4x48 Challenge”. This involves running 4 miles, every 4 hours, for 48 hours. For our Australian audience, this is the equivalent of 76.8km!
Battling muscle soreness, aggressive fatigue, and the late New York winter, Sosh not only smashed the challenge, but he raised over $1500 in the process, well clear of his $500 target, all of which is headed directly towards sarcoma research.
We can’t thank Sosh enough, not only for his contribution towards finding a cure for sarcoma, but also by growing Coops’ legacy by spreading sarcoma awareness globally 💛. The collage above is of some of the selfies Sosh took after each 4 mile effort.
If you are interested in raising funds for sarcoma research, don’t hesitate to message us on Instagram or Facebook, or get in touch via email on crbf@info.org.au. For a small organisation like our own, it’s initiatives like Sosh’s which not only raise critical funding for sarcoma research and patient support, but also keep sarcoma firmly in the spotlight.
International Childhood Cancer Day (ICCD) is a global collaborative campaign on the 15th February, to raise awareness about childhood cancer, and to express support for children and adolescents with cancer, the survivors and their families. (ICCD, 2021)
Every year, more than 400,000 children and AYA’s are diagnosed with cancer, with Sarcoma accounting for up to 20% of these diagnoses.
As the sun sets on the 2021 ICCD, we recognise and silently support those young patients and their families walking this road, and cherish the memory of those whose lives have been lost.
We thank those remarkable individuals and organisations who are immersed in childhood cancer. From the dedicated paediatric, and adolescent and young adult, nurses, specialist support staff, and medical oncology teams, to the passionate researchers working tirelessly towards a cure, the state and federal governments for their ongoing commitment to advancing children’s cancer research, and finally, the not-for-profit organisations, often driven by personal and devastating loss, which help support the research into a cure.
Each of these bodies and individuals has an equally important role to play, as we strive collaboratively to find a cure for all childhood cancers.
The role of the Sarcoma Clinical Nurse Consultant is pivotal to not only the quality of patient care, but assists greatly in supporting and navigating the patient through one of the most savage cancer treatment regimes.
“Patients diagnosed with sarcoma experience complex treatment pathways and unmet needs. The Sarcoma Clinical Nurse Consultant position was recently established in Western Australia to improve the quality of patient care. As this role is new in Western Australia and nationally, research is required to understand the duties, benefits, and gaps of the position.” (Perspectives of the sarcoma clinical nurse consultant role: A qualitative study conducted by a stellar team in WA, Rhys Weaver, Moira O’Connor, Irene Ngune, Richard Carey-Smith, Jane Phillips and Georgia Halkett) thoroughly explores the requirement for this critical role within the sarcoma MDT.
Congratulations to the team , and to our WA counterparts, Sock it to Sarcoma! – for facilitating this much needed research.
Associate Professor Paul Craft has been acknowledged for his dedication and commitment to oncology and professional organisations, in the Australia Day Honours list, awarded a Member of the Order of Australia (AM).
Professor Craft has a special interest in sarcoma, and forms part of the ACT region’s Sarcoma Multidisciplinary Team.
Since 1988 Professor Craft has contributed significantly to Australian medical committees, councils and organisations including the ACT Health Research Ethics Committee, ACT Cancer Council, Royal Australian College of Physicians, and the Clinical Oncology Society of Australia.
Today, we sadly farewelled (Dr) Matt Fisher at a beautiful service in Canberra. Matt tragically lost his life to sarcoma on January 8.
Professor Craft was Matt’s oncologist and there was never any doubt how highly Matt regarded this very special man.
Matt was a scientist and understood well the hard work, experience and dedication it takes to make a significant footprint in a gruelling speciality such as oncology.
From all at the Cooper Rice-Brading Foundation and the sarcoma community, we extend our heartiest congratulations to Professor Craft, AM, and our deepest gratitude for the profound difference he makes in the lives of cancer patients.
YOU CAN STAY is an initiative of the Sony Foundation, and provides emergency accommodation for rural teenagers with cancer, and their families, enabling them to travel to the city for life-saving cancer treatment.
The Sony Foundation provides this service at no cost.
Each year the Sydney Sixers join with the Sony Foundation to raise funding and awareness for this outstanding cause, and this year, CRBF Ambassador Jack Gibson, was interviewed with long time friend and team mate Hayden Kerr, together with Captain, Daniel Hughes to promote the game which took place on Saturday 16 January, 2021.
As a significant portion of these young patients are living with a sarcoma diagnosis, we extend our sincere gratitude to both the Sony Foundation and the Sydney Sixers for the work they have done and continue to do, in making the lives of young rural cancer patients and their families, just a little less stressful.
It is with deep sadness we learned this morning, of the passing of Matthew (Matt) Fisher.
Matt was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma in March of 2020 and underwent one of the most gruelling of treatment regimes. His courage and resilience never waned for a moment. His selflessness knew no bounds.
Matt leaves behind his much-adored wife and his “rock”, Naomi, who walked every step of the way beside Matt, whilst juggling the demands of their two precious daughters, Vivienne and Sylvie aged four and one.
There were so many learnings from this young family whose perfect life literally crumbled before them at the hands of sarcoma. Humility and grace in the face of adversity which needed to be witnessed to truly understand, perseverance and determination day after day, despite very little positive news along the way, and a love story like no other which will last forever.
The support of this remarkable young family extended to mum Susan who left her home in Japan, during Covid, to ensure they were never alone, together with that of the extended family. Everyone knew their role, and they each stepped up to ensure Matt, Naomi and the children were shrouded in love.
Yesterday, as per Matt’s wishes, the Matthew Fisher Sarcoma Research Fund was announced. Matt was a scientist and knew the undisputed value scientific research plays in advancing sarcoma. Unsurprisingly, for those who knew Matt, he opted to ensure his legacy was to help those yet to be diagnosed.
To this beautiful family who tonight contemplate life without Matt, we send you love, strength and support, and remind each of you never walk this road alone.
Matt, wife Naomi and their daughters Sylvie and Vivienne
It is with the deepest regret the decision has been made to cancel the 2021 Memorial T20 cricket match.
This event will be back bigger and better in 2022, in time to mark what would have been Cooper’s 23rd birthday.
Join us in taking a trip down memory lane, with the wonderful photos from last year’s event, captured by photographer Katie Hardyman, who donated her professional talent and time to CRBF, to ensure these very special moments were captured for posterity.
