International Childhood Cancer Day 2024

International Childhood Cancer Day (ICCD) 2024Awareness around childhood cancer is never limited to one day, however on this day each year, we pause to recognise the needs and challenges of young cancer patients & survivors worldwide.  It is also a day where we honour the cherished memories of those whose lives have been lost.  

Approx 40,000 children/adolescents worldwide are diagnosed with cancer each year, & 1000 of these are Australian.  Concerningly, three of these children will lose their lives weekly to cancer.   Despite significant advancements in medical research & treatment options, young cancer patients still face immense challenges & the impact extends far beyond those diagnosed.

ICCD serves as a poignant reminder of the urgency required to address unique challenges faced by children with cancer; a celebration of progress made in paediatric oncology; & renewed commitment to equitable access to quality care & support for all children affected by cancer.   This day also recognises & highlights those who through unimaginable adversity, continue to make a profound difference in the lives of others.   

One such family, is that of Zac Minty diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma at the age of eight – they are a shining example of resilience, courage, & strength, much like Zac himself.  

Bricks & Smiles: the Zac Minty Legacy Project, was established by this remarkable family in honour Zac, who passed away aged 11.    LEGO was important to Zac whilst undergoing treatment as it provided “a pastime, a rehab tool, a challenge, and an escape.” Despite his very young age, he aimed to support other kids going through cancer treatment by providing the opportunity to pick out their dream LEGO sets. He also wanted to help find a cure for cancer.  

Bricks & Smiles directs fund to:   Providing kids undergoing oncology treatment a $400 grant to pick out their dream LEGO set(s); Australian paediatric/AYA sarcoma research (including clinical trials)  

In honour of Zak & in recognition of the outstanding work undertaken by his family to ease the burden on other children, CRBF will double all donations made to Bricks and Smiles (up to $2000) To donate or read more go to the link in our bio

In Zac’s family’s words:

“Zac was 8 when he was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma in the orbit of his left eye. He bravely fought for almost 3 years, passing away in 2022, just after turning 11. He was in year 6 at the time. 

Zac was an aspiring soccer goal keeper, a mad Liverpool FC fan and a kind, generous, thoughtful kid – a beautiful soul. He gave so much to us, he had so much more to give – but sarcoma took that away.  He stoically battled through some incredibly harrowing treatment, always putting on a brave face and anxious to look out for those caring for him. 

 Our family set up Bricks & Smiles in Zac’s name. He loved doing LEGO through his treatment, it was an escape and an opportunity to feel in control in a world where so much was out of his control due to cancer. He would do LEGO on the hospital ward, at Ronald McDonald House, or at home – there was always something on the go. With Bricks & Smiles, kids undergoing oncology treatment can apply for a grant to pick out their dream LEGO sets. They can build them where and when they like. 

It brought Zac joy to create, and it’s bringing other kids joy as they fight so hard against this cruel disease.  Bricks & Smiles has also been able to make a contribution to sarcoma research and will continue to do so – we must all work together towards a cure for sarcoma and other cancers. No less.  

Zac’s grandma Mary-Lou holds a cake stall every two weeks to raise money, zac’s mum and friends had their community sponsor their City to Surf run, Zac’s dad does the Bricks & Smiles website and his brother Elliott brought the school onboard to do SRC do fundraisers. Through all these little bits and pieces we stand up to cancer in Zac’s name. Granting the LEGO is us standing with other kids going through hard treatment. Bricks & Smiles also support the incredible work of researchers looking for a cure. 

On Zac’s birthday his family will gather together at Ronald McDonald House to sponsor and prepare a ‘Meal from the Heart’ in Zac’s name. This is a great initiative that community and corporate groups can support families staying at the house by cooking and serving a meal for them. Zac and family spent almost 270 nights at RMDH through his treatment and his family benefited from so many Meals from the Heart. Even when Zac wasn’t able to eat much he loved the Meals from the Heart nights, as it made everyone’s life easier. It made us all feel nourished as well as full. 

International Childhood Cancer Day is a day to support the children and adolescents that are battling cancer and their families, carers and communities. It is a day to support the amazing work of clinicians, medical and allied health staff, and medical researchers. It’s a day to commit to keep fighting this fight until we have a cure for childhood cancer. “

We urge you to support this outstanding initiative by going to www.bricksandsmiles.org

Sarcoma Summit Sydney 2023


2023 Sarcoma Summit

22 September

Kerry Packer Theatre RPA, Sydney. 

A day emblematic of hope for the future.

The virtual & in person audience comprised of those living with sarcoma, families, bereaved family & carers, clinicians, researchers, local & fed government, allied health professionals & everyone in between. The event provided a platform for each to be heard, & to share more about this insidious cancer.

The idea was that of CEO, Sydney Local Health District, Dr Teresa Anderson AM, and her stellar team led by Chief of Staff, Hannah Storey, & marked the first step forward in moving the dial for sarcoma  in NSW, & nationally.

The MC for the event was veteran media presenter & cancer advocate, Julie McCrossin OAM, whose execution was flawless.  Julie was entertaining & brought much needed humour to an otherwise very dark topic by her unpredictability, & the ability to think on her feet.  It was a tough job, & it was done to perfection.

An outstanding line-up of presenters covered an immense body of topics & gave inspiring & highly informative presentations.

However, it was those who live the devastation of sarcoma who ultimately made the greatest impact.  It is an unspeakably tough job to relive that passage of life irreversibly changed by sarcoma, however these brave, articulate individuals provided raw & honest accounts of their individual experiences.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the attendees, many of whom travelled significant distances to be there, & many of whom are at differing stages in the sarcoma timeline.

Clinicians/researchers/allied health professionals took time out of their schedules to support the event & to come together with other members of this small, but powerful community.

Our infinite thanks goes to the panellists & speakers – Dr Teresa Anderson AM, Uncle Allen Madden, Julie McCrossin OAM, Drs Richard Boyle, Dan Franks, & Maurice Guzman, Neil Gibson, Rebecca Minty, Louise Hird, A/Profs Antoinette Anazodo OAM, Peter Grimison, & Wayne Nicholls, Emma Pechey, Neema Rajak, Kaela Graham-Bowman, Karen & Imogen Atkins, Mandy Basson, Emma Pechey, James Parr, A/Prof Rooshdiya Karim, Dr’s Emily Davidson, Isobelle Smith, & Aneesh Dave.

2023 Sarcoma Summit A4 Booklet Digital

CRBF Support Kits for those living with sarcoma


When you are diagnosed with sarcoma, your world changes in the blink of an eye.  Life is suddenly filled with extreme angst and the unknown.

Our Patient Support Advocate, the late Jack Gibson knew this feeling all too well, and it was Jack who spent hours of his time thinking about those things that made a difference throughout his treatment.

With the exception of the rug he loved to take with him during his visits to hospital,(which we are yet to source) we have put together kits that reflect comfort, a little luxury and practicality.  Kits that provide momentary joy to those living with a sarcoma diagnosis.

Woolen beanies, lip balm by moogoo,  skin products crafted for those going through cancer treatment from Scout Cosmetics, exquisite product from Glasshouse Fragrances,  silk eye masks and sleepwear from Peter Alexander Sleepwear, The Tie Dye Project long and short sleeve apparel, silk/ satin pillow covers, are provided in the standard kit .

Kits are tailored to the needs of each patient, and we cater for all ages and gender.

We can only do this because of the exceptional generosity of the partners we have in place for this very important project.  Their participation and willingness to support our work has enabled this programme to expand exponentially over the past five years.

Suffice to say, this would not be possible without their support.

A life that once was, the love that always will be


22 January, 1999 – 24 August, 2017

The life that once was, and the love that will always be.

Always and forever…

Our family extends our heartfelt thanks to Professor Glenn Marshall AM, talented  artist, and eminent paediatric oncologist at the Children’s Hospital Randwick,  Director of the Kids Cancer Alliance, and Head of Molecular Carcinogenic Program and Translational Research at the CCIS for capturing Cooper as he would wish to be remembered on his 24th birthday.

This magnificent painting which forms part of Prof Marshalls series  “boy to man…” portrays Cooper as an 11 year old captaining the SEJCA representative cricket side, and in the foreground as a 16 year old playing T20 for the Sydney Grammar 1st X1 shortly before his sarcoma diagnosis. (Original photos attached)

A very sad goodbye to Jordan Stockman


It is with the heaviest of hearts that we share the passing of yet another very special young man – Jordan Stockman.

Jordan was diagnosed with metastatic Ewing sarcoma days after his 25th birthday in August of 2021, and staged a very courageous and public battle, using his sizeable social media following to raise awareness of sarcoma, despite the great personal adversity he lived daily.  He was determined to use whatever he had at his disposal to move the dial, and to ensure others his age understood the sinister nature of sarcoma in an effort to promote early diagnosis.

When meeting Jordan face to face he was surprisingly different from his social media persona. He was a gently spoken and considered young man, and his notoriety in the fashion world, and on TiK Tok failed to change his grace and humility, and in particular, the undeniable love he had for his family.

Jordan was one of six children to doting parents, Ahuaiti and Darrin Stockman.  You  could walk the earth, and never find a more loving, and more genuinely cohesive family.

In an unimaginable and deeply cruel twist of fate, Jordan lost his beloved mum to pancreatic cancer only eight short weeks ago.

Jordan’s story is a strong reminder of so much.  The fragility of life, the inequity of tragedy, the importance of making each moment count, but most of all, how love and family prevails over all.

We send our love and strength to Darrin, Corey, Jovan, Cullen, Kaelis and little sister Kye-Jana.

Rest in peace Jordan. You will always be one in a million.

If you would like to provide financial assistance to Jordan’s family you can go to link in Bio, or for an offer of practical assistance, please contact Tania Rice-Brading via DM on our socials or email taniarb@crbf.org.au.  Tributes may be left on our social media, which will be collated and sent to the family.

Macquarie Bank supports sarcoma research


There is no better way to see 2022 out, than providing hope for the future to all those living with a sarcoma diagnosis.

We are honoured to announce CRBF was the nominated charity for the annual Macquarie Group Banking and Financial Services (BFS) Trivia Night. This is a staff event organised by volunteers within BFS to support philanthropic causes.

The event commenced with a CRBF sarcoma awareness video containing snippets of the speech Cooper Rice-Brading delivered to 250 guests at the launch of CRBF in March of 2017, using the platform to highlight the insidious nature of the disease, together with the severe lack of awareness in the community, and the dire lack of funding sarcoma receives.

Through the event, Macquarie staff raised over $173,000 for CRBF, a truly remarkable effort which will contribute to sarcoma specific clinical research and patient support in Australia. This will be allocated to two very exciting high level projects to commence in early 2023.

Our thanks cannot be adequately articulated to all of the Macquarie BFS staff who participated and their immense generosity.  This event would not have been possible without the organisational skills of the Macquarie BFS volunteers who organised the event in support of CRBF. Special thanks must go to Cooper’s school friend Mark Yam, together with Avantika Pratap, Georgia and Maddie Waites who worked diligently behind the scenes to ensure the resounding success of the event.

As the sun sets on 2022, we take this opportunity to wish each of our supporters the promise of hope, good health and happiness in 2023.  The work we do for those living with a sarcoma diagnosis would not be possible without your ongoing support and generosity.

Festive Season greetings 2023


May all that is beautiful, meaningful, and brings you joy, be yours this Christmas Day as you celebrate with those closest to your heart.

This year has been one of unimaginable loss but with it, unimaginable gratitude and love. Thank you so much for being there.

As always at this time of the year remembering those who may be facing great personal challenges and immeasurable loss.  You are never alone.

Thanks once again to the CRBF Christmas Bulldog Betty!

Swing For Sarcoma Inaugural Golf Day


On November 17, four remarkable young men, each with a strong personal connection to sarcoma, hosted the Swing for Sarcoma corporate golf day.

Ed Clark, Tim Telan, Patrick (Pat) Nekkan and Simon Danieletto are lifelong friends, and young professionals, who now have partners and young families, yet despite their personal and professional commitments, put their heart and soul, together with countless hours into ensuring the success of this event.   Our gratitude to Ed, Tim, Pat and SImon together with their partners, is difficult to articulate.

The work that goes into an event of this magnitude is immense, yet somehow this outstanding group of young men managed to produce a day which will be etched in the memory of those attending for many years to come.

The day was picture perfect, the event flawless, the Mt Broughton Golf Course simply superb, and those participating were outstanding.

Despite the fact there was no collusion with the final tally, the eventual winners of the inaugural Swing for Sarcoma cup were Pontoon Bar Darling Harbour team led by owner Mark Swadling, who has loyally supported CRBF and our work with sarcoma from the day we set out to instigate change.

This event would not be possible without the generosity of sponsors, far too numerous to mention,  each appearing in the attached video.  If you have the opportunity to support these generous individuals and donors, we ask that you do.

A very special mention to the fabulous Adrienne and Peter Glass and to the big-hearted Craig Hodges for their immense generosity in donating luxury stays at their respective holiday homes as auction prizes, which do not appear in the programme.

Photo credits to Pip Danieletto

Identification of sarcoma predisposition.


Three weeks into 2023, the stellar team at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Omico and UNSW, led by Professor(s) Mandy Ballinger and David Thomas today released scientific findings on the identification of genes and pathways associated with sarcoma predisposition.

The study has identified several new important genes that can cause sarcoma, and the implications of this research are far reaching for those living with sarcoma and their families, allowing detection of the cancer earlier and the potential for improved survival for those diagnosed with this sinister cancer.

The study has found a gene carried by one in 14 individuals diagnosed with sarcoma, which explains why the cancer emerges. In addition, the research team identified a previously unrecognised genetic pathway specific to sarcomas.

Professor Ballinger said today “Further understanding of the heritable genetic drivers will eventually lead to better outcomes for families impacted by sarcoma.”

The research was made possible by the dedication and hard work of those involved, and the support of funding partners

To read more please press the link below:

Link to Article