The saddest of goodbyes to an unforgettable young woman...

Two years ago, a remarkable young woman came into our lives at CRBF.  Mikaila Brisbane was 22 at the time.
Mikaila had a smile that could light up a room, breathtaking beauty, a genuine love of others less fortunate, and a zest for life that was contagious.
This young woman was a mother of two adorable toddlers, and the love she had for her children, her husband and her wonderful family was something to behold.From the outside looking in, this young woman was living the dream.  Married to her childhood sweetheart, two lively, healthy children, a family who adored her and the promise of a wonderful life ahead fulfilling a myriad of hopes and dreams. 

 

Sydney Swans Patron Peter Weinert and Rising Star Nick Blakey join forces for sarcoma

August of 2019 saw Swans rising star Nick Blakey shining a light on sarcoma in memory of Cooper, who was his team mate and, at times, his on-field adversary. Nick did this by attending a training session at the East Sydney Bulldogs home ground at Trumper Park, a ground that holds so many memories of Nick and Cooper fiercely contesting the AFL ball during their junior years. In Nick and Coop’s teams over the years were many other young keen players, including Jack Weinert and his younger brother Tom, who were overseen as coach by their Dad, former Sydney Swans Chairman & President Peter Weinert, a quiet and understated man who had volunteered his time to coach the boys.

CRBF 2019 City to Surf - 'Coop's sprint for sarcoma'

The temperature may have been a very chilly 10 degrees, but this did little to dampen the spirits of the CRBF - Sydney University Inter-college  participants in the 2019 City to Surf.

Global Sarcoma Month Corporate Breakfast

The skies may have been grey, but the magnificent confines of the Baker McKenzie conference rooms in the imposing Barangaroo Towers complex was a world away. Bright yellow roses reminded all present, of the lives, past, present and future, affected by sarcoma, and the overriding message - ‘while sarcoma awareness month may be over, we are only just beginning…’

CRBF Mother' Day Breakfast 2019

Once more Zest Waterfront Venues at the Royal motor Yacht Club provided a magnificent backdrop to the 2019 CRBF Mother's Day Breakfast.

With the sun rising, bathing the Pacific Room in a warm golden hue, the harbour glistening, and the room resplendent with antique pink roses, the scene was set for yet another celebration of motherhood, in support of clinical research for sarcoma.

The English Channel Swim

Two weeks ago, three outstanding young men departed Sydney for England to embark upon the 34 km swim they had prepared to undertake for the past six months. Brothers Matt and Chris Watson together with close friend Sam Gilbert, had opted to swim the English Channel, and in doing so to raise funding and awareness for the Poche Centre for Indigenous Health, and the Cooper Rice-Brading Foundation for sarcoma research.

English Channel Swim - Garden Party

On a balmy Saturday afternoon, February 2, Professor John Watson and his wife Julieanne and four sons, Matthew, Chris, Tim and Peter, hosted an afternoon of jazz for 100 invited guests, in the gardens of their magnificent home in Castlecrag, on Sydney's North Shore.

The afternoon was to launch the English Channel Swim, to be undertaken later this year, by Chris and Matt Watson, and their friend Sam Gilbert, all medical/science students at Sydney University.

These remarkable young men have opted to donate funds raised from this swim to the Poche Foundation for Indigenous Health, and the Cooper Rice-Brading Foundation.

We wish each of these young men a safe journey, and an exciting adventure as they swim the English Channel for Poche Foundation and CRBF.

Ironman versus Sarcoma

December 1, 2019 the Busselton Ironman takes place in Western Australia. This gruelling event consists of a 3.8km swim, a 180km bike ride, and a 42.2 km run.

Jack Rackyleft has decided to take this challenge head on, whilst raising awareness and funding for sarcoma research through CRBF, in honour of his mother Dr Debbie Rackyleft, his friend Sydney uni student and CRBF Ambassador Jack Gibson, and his much loved Irish Wolfhound Saffy, all of whom have lived a sarcoma diagnosis.

Please support this extraordinary young man by going to https://donorbox.org/jack-s-ironman-for-sarcoma

Jack's blog may be found on the CRBF website https://www.crbf.org.au/category/ironmanvsarcoma/, so you may keep abreast of his progress, and the demanding training schedule he has set, in order to be ready for December 1.

We wish Jack every success in Busselton, and extend our heartfelt thanks to him for this selfless gesture.

Rugby League Legend's Dinner - NRL Museum

Thursday the 20th September, saw Jeremy Sutcliffe, Chairman of CRBF, host an intimate group of invited guests in the commanding confines of the NRL Museum, Moore Park, to an evening of  entertainment, to support clinical research into sarcoma.

The CRBF T20 Memorial Cricket Match - 2019

Tuesday 22 January, 2019, saw the magnificently manicured grounds of Trumper Park Oval Paddington, enshrined in sunshine and blue skies.  This oval once more providing the perfect setting for the second Cooper Rice-Brading Foundation (CRBF) T20 cricket match on January 22, 2019.

 Nova 96.9 FM & UpCycle Indoor Cycle Studio City to Surf Run for Coops

Robert Hao Chopin Recital

The highly talented Rob Hao kept the audience spellbound on Friday the 10th of August, with his flawless piano recital, for the Cooper Rice-Brading Foundation.

This was to be Rob's final performance prior to leaving for London, and  his forthcoming studies at the Royal College of Music.

CRBF T20 Birthday Bash

To celebrate Coop's Birthday on January 22, the Foundation held the inaugural Birthday Bash T20. The CRBF 1st X1, went head to head with the CRBF All Stars.

Inaugural Mother's Day Breakfast

Friday March 11, 2018 saw the Foundation conduct its inaugural Mother's Day Breakfast, at Zest Waterfront venues, RMYC Point Piper. The event was hosted by the amazing Mia Freedman, who in her inimitable style, and together with her equally talented son Luca, held our guests in the palm of her hand.

I could write all day, and never be able to articulate our thanks to Mia and Luca for their time, and for their love and support of this critical and personal cause.

The Sydney Grammar School Trivia Evening

The event was a resounding success, raising $7000 for critical sarcoma research. Sincere thanks to Mr Jason Slater for organising the event, the Grammar Masters,  together with prefect and Cooper's very good friends Adam Pacey and Tom Chadwick together with the Form V1 students for their support and participation.

Bridge To Brooklyn Ride For Sarcoma

We were delighted to have joined forces with Chris O'Brien Lifehouse to bring avid cycling enthusiasts the opportunity to join Robbie McEwen AM, and former Australian team-mate and Olympian Grant Rice who coincidentally, is Cooper's uncle, on this unique 133km cycle challenge.

The Inaugural Gala Dinner CRBF Launch

230 guests were welcomed by the fabulous, highly personable and very funny, Michael "Wippa" Wipfli, whilst the warmth and professionalism of Peter Overton engaged the audience throughout.

Boxing Day Ashes Test Experience Raffle

Congratulations to our winner - Sonya Canning from Queensland, with winning ticket number 88.
Our sincere thanks to Sonya for her generosity in purchasing a ticket in the Ashes Test Raffle, and in doing so assisting Cooper's goal of Funding a cure for sarcoma.