JCU students know the brain matters

James Cook University students will form the core group of runners in a September fun-run to fundraise for research into childhood brain cancer.

The Robert Connor Dawes (RCD) Foundation organises Connor’s Run in memory of Connor Dawes, who passed away after a 16-month battle with brain cancer.

JCU student Ben Rennie is fully embracing the Connor’s Run tagline of ‘more fun than run’ for his fundraising efforts and has decided to run wearing a mascot outfit.

“I wanted to do something whacky and I thought that my friends could definitely support me running (or at least trying to!) 19 kilometres in a hot and (at the end) heavy mascot outfit.”

The inaugural Townsville Connor’s Shadow Run will be held on September 11 around the JCU Douglas campus and will finish near the Townsville Rowing Club with distances of 4.8km and 9.6km.

RCD Foundation Director Liz Dawes is excited about Connor’s story spreading to another university and she is optimistic about the future of the Townsville Shadow Run in the hands of JCU students.

“I’m so excited about the potential of more enthusiastic young people who are going to get involved in Connor’s Run.”

“We’re all about bringing an end to the harsh reality of brain cancer through sharing Connor’s story to inspire people to do what they can for current sufferers.”

Run registration can be found at connorsrun.com/shadow-runs/ or by contacting Ben Rennie at ben.rennie@my.jcu.edu.au.

The $40 registration includes a funky t-shirt and all proceeds will go towards to supporting Research, Care and Development (RCD) of paediatric brain cancer treatment and support.

Fundraising is a huge part of Connor’s Run and this year the RCD Foundation has set the ambitious target of $500,000 for Connor’s Run and Shadow Runs in 2016.

Since 2013, the RCD Foundation has raised more than $1,000,000 and committed $800,000 to various paediatric brain cancer projects.

The primary Connor’s Run has been held in Melbourne since 2013 but also involves ‘Shadow Runs’ all around the world.

Brain cancer is the most fatal of all childhood cancers. Current clinical treatments only help 50% of children, but leave 90% with lifelong physical and mental impairments.

More information about the RCD Foundation and Connor’s story can be found at rcdfoundation.org.