36ers join childhood brain cancer fight

Vital research into breakthrough brain cancer treatments in children will be the focus of a two-year partnership extension between the Adelaide 36ers and The Hospital Research Foundation (THRF) Group.

The two iconic South Australian organisations are joining forces once again to fight for the health and wellbeing of all Australians – with a special focus this season on research into childhood brain cancer.

The Foundation is already supporting innovative research into new treatments being developed to help combat aggressive brain cancers.

Players will help advance this important work once again, donning the Group’s logo on their gameday jerseys but also raising awareness off the court for young children, adolescents and their families who are impacted by these heartbreaking cancers.

This NBL season the 36ers will throw their support behind children like 12-year-old Daryl, an avid basketball player for the West Adelaide Bearcats and fan who was diagnosed with a brain tumour at age 10, devastating his entire family.

Following an eight-hour operation, Daryl’s doctors concluded that if they tried to remove the tumour there was a very high-risk Daryl would go blind.

Instead, he underwent chemotherapy every Wednesday for an entire year to stop the tumour from growing. His love of basketball and his determination to keep playing, even after treatments, as well as the love of his family have been getting him through the ordeal.

Briony Marshall, Chief Operating Officer of THRF Group, said it was great to see the state’s preeminent basketball team get behind such an important cause.

“Brain cancer is one of the most common childhood cancers, with around 120 children and adolescents diagnosed each year in Australia,” Marshall said.

“Brain cancer kills more kids in Australia than any other disease and more people under 40 than any other cancer and unfortunately there is no cure.

“Sport has always been powerful in uniting people for a common purpose, and the synergies this has with our mission makes the Adelaide 36ers the perfect partner. Together we will drive awareness around the importance of medical research into deadly diseases and illnesses affecting Australians every single day.”

Adelaide 36ers CEO Nic Barbato said the club is excited to be partnering with the Foundation again after its first season last year.

“Our players, staff, partners and fans have really connected with the work The Hospital Research Foundation Group is doing across more than 50 areas of disease and in inspiring positive health and wellbeing in the community,” Barbato said.

“We’re proud to be taking the partnership even further this year by getting behind Daryl and his family and helping find better treatments for devastating childhood cancers. As the Foundation’s ‘Together.Fight.’ campaign demonstrates, you’re stronger when you band together.”