"Every dollar funds a part of a project, and every project is a step forward.”
Shannon Camilleri
Project Officer, Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney
Shannon Camilleri walks 200km to raise funds for brain cancer breakthroughs.
To mark Brain Cancer Awareness Month, Shannon Camilleri set out to walk or run 200km — raising funds and awareness for Brain Cancer Australia.
A speech pathologist by training, Shannon has seen the toll brain cancer takes on patients and families, particularly around communication and end-of-life care.
Now working at the University of Sydney’s Brain and Mind Centre, she has an appreciaton for the role research plays in changing patient outcomes and has witnessed the impact of small donations.
“We often talk about major national grants,” Shannon says, “but I’ve seen how small amounts can go a long way. Every dollar funds a part of a project, and every project is a step forward.”
Shannon was inspired to take on the 200km challenge after hearing a brain cancer story on a podcast. Her efforts took her on walks from Kiama to Gerringong and back, on “many, many” laps of Sydney Park after work, and on trails in Bicentennial and Western Sydney Regional Parks.
She was drawn to Brain Cancer Australia’s mission to drive brain cancer breakthroughs faster. “There are so many organisations doing fantastic things for patients,” she says, “but we often neglect the fact we need to support researchers with the resources they need to drive progress.”
Support Shannon's efforts here.
Read more about her challenge here.
