Madeley mother fundraises for childhood brain cancer research

WITH brain cancer killing more children in Australia than any other disease, Madeley mother Fiona Stevenson is aware how lucky her son Blake is.

The 14-year-old had a benign brain tumour removed last year, leaving him with an acquired brain injury and the right side of his body weak.

Mrs Stevenson said despite the issues Blake had since surgery, they were lucky and wanted to support children less fortunate by holding a fundraising event.

Blake’s Brain Busting Trivia Night will donate all proceeds to The Adventurers, a charity raising awareness of childhood brain cancer and funds for research into treatments.

Mrs Stevenson said up until recently brain cancer research had received little funding and so events such as this were integral to help save lives.

“Brain cancer kills more children in Australia than any other disease and more people under 40 than any other cancer,” she said.

“While survival rates for other types of cancers such as Leukemia have greatly improved, brain cancer survival rates are low and have barely changed in the last 30 years.”

Since Blake’s diagnoses, Mrs Stevenson said life had been tough and the whole family had been affected, with the biggest changes, of course, to Blake’s quality of life.

“He lost his sense of balance after surgery and is learning to walk again so needs a wheelchair to get around,” she said.

“He has double vision so needs to patch one eye to see and has intensive physiotherapy three times a week, he is slowly recovering but it will take a long time.

“Despite the issues Blake has faced since his brain tumour was removed, we are so lucky that it was benign.

“I now want to do something to help raise money for those children not so fortunate.”

The trivia night in October will include raffles, silent auctions, games and rounds of questions.

Alcohol and soft drinks will be available to buy but food is BYO.

What: Blake’s Brain Busting Trivia Night

When: Saturday, October 13 – doors open 6.30pm for 7pm start

Where: Warwick Stadium on the corner of Warwick and Wanneroo roadsTickets: $120 for a table of eight, book via trybooking.com/398851