Survival rates for childhood brain cancer have barely changed during the past 30 years. Currently, one Australian child dies every nine days from this disease.  

For the past four years, The Lott by Golden Casket has supported the Children’s Brain Cancer Centre – a powerful collaboration between the Children’s Hospital Foundation and world-leading institutions. It brings together the best clinicians, researchers and facilities to work on projects that have the potential to detect, monitor and stop the growth of brain tumours. 

We are incredibly proud to continue to support the centre with a $500,000 donation from Golden Casket unclaimed prize money. This donation will enable ongoing research and development into children’s brain cancer survival, something that Fletcher Campbell and his family are hoping for.

Seven-year-old Fletcher was diagnosed with medulloblastoma – the most common high-grade brain tumour – in May this year and has since endured more procedures than his family can count.

“When Fletcher was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, I was 32 weeks pregnant with our third child,” Fletcher’s Mum, Natasha Campbell said.

“We had the stresses that come along with a newborn and the stresses that come along with finding out our child had brain cancer.”

Fletcher is expected to finish his chemotherapy treatment by Christmas, however, his family still has a long road ahead with his rehabilitation and ongoing side effects.

“As parents, we just hope to have three healthy and beautiful children on the other side of this experience. We just hope one day to see Fletcher play football, just like his daddy,” Natasha added. 

Children’s Hospital Foundation CEO Lyndsey Rice welcomed the donation, recognising its impact on the fight against paediatric brain cancer. 

“Brain cancer kills more children than any other disease in Australia, yet it is often an underfunded area of research,” Ms Rice said.

“Thanks to The Lott by Golden Casket, we can continue to make strides towards a future without brain cancer. We can advance treatment options, improve survivorship and in the long run, find a cure.” 

In addition to the $500,000 donation to the Children’s Brain Cancer Centre, The Lott by Golden Casket is also donating $1 million from state lottery taxes to the Children’s Hospital Foundation’s work supporting sick kids and their families.

The Lott Chief Customer and Marketing Officer Andrew Shepherd said he hoped the donation would help the Children’s Hospital Foundation and the Children’s Brain Cancer Centre make significant strides towards helping those in need. 

“Thanks to our customers and retailers, we’re proud to have a long legacy of supporting sick children and young people through the Children’s Hospital Foundation,” he said.

“Each year, many children and their families are impacted by serious illnesses and diseases. That’s why investing in vital research and new treatments that give new hope to children like Fletcher is a win for everyone.

“Over the years, The Lott by Golden Casket has committed almost $20 million to the Children’s Hospital Foundation to help fund cutting-edge equipment, world-first research, and on-the-ground support.

“We continue to be inspired by the dedicated, world-class health professionals at the Queensland Children’s Hospital and Children’s Brain Cancer Centre, who support seriously ill children and young people every day. We hope our contribution continues to make a difference.”

Learn more about The Children’s Brain Cancer Centre and how you can support its work here.