Australia punches well above its weight in cancer research, and a large part of that is thanks to the charities and community fundraisers that keep the money flowing to laboratories and clinical trials. Tour de Cure is one of the most significant of these organisations, and I recently attended its gala in Sydney to support the cause and to stand alongside other carers. As someone who has lived the reality of a Glioblastoma diagnosis in the family, I want to explain why events like this matter so much to Australian families.

Where research funding actually goes

Julie Crawshay celebrating with her extended family in Sydney, Australia
Julie Crawshay celebrating with her extended family in Sydney, Australia

Tour de Cure has funded hundreds of cancer research, support and prevention projects across Australia. For brain cancer specifically, that funding helps pay for the scientists, equipment and clinical trials that give patients access to newer treatments. Glioblastoma remains one of the hardest cancers to treat, which is exactly why sustained, locally raised research money is so important. Progress here tends to come in careful steps, and every step needs backing.

The Australian context for carers

For families navigating brain cancer in Australia, the research story and the caregiving story are deeply connected. Better treatments can mean more time, and more time is what every carer is fighting for. I created The Neuro Farmacist to help Australian families find evidence-based information, and supporting research charities like Tour de Cure is the other side of the same coin — today's fundraising becomes tomorrow's treatment options.

How Australians can get involved

You do not need to ride hundreds of kilometres or buy a table at a gala to make a difference. Donating to reputable Australian cancer research charities, volunteering, or simply raising awareness in your own community all help. If you are a carer, connecting with others who understand the journey can be just as valuable. I will keep championing both — research that changes outcomes, and the community that carries families through.

— Julie Crawshay, Sydney