Run2Cure Neuroblastoma is a fun run organised by the registered charity, Neuroblastoma Australia.
Run2Cure is held annually in The Domain, Sydney and has attracted between 3000-5000 participants for 10 years.
Neuroblastoma Australia launched an annual virtual event, Run2Cure Local, in 2020 that continues each year during the month of September, Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
In November of 2023, Run2Cure will be held in Melbourne VIC for the first time, launching in the Caribbean Gardens.
Run2Cure is the charity’s largest fundraising event for research into the aggressive childhood cancer, neuroblastoma.
Run2Cure Neuroblastoma supports leading neuroblastoma research projects in key research institutes across Australia such as The Children's Cancer Institute Sydney, The Kids Cancer Centre and UNSW Sydney and The Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre Melbourne.
Visit the Neuroblastoma Australia current research projects page and past projects page for detailed information on the projects we have supported.
Professor Murray Norris, Deputy Director and Dr Toby Trahair, Clinical Doctor at the Children's Cancer Institute talk about why more funding is needed for research into neuroblastoma.
By participating in Run2Cure Neuroblastoma and raising money for much-needed research, you will help us get closer to finding a cure.
Each year, families affected by neuroblastoma, friends, running groups, schools and corporate teams, come together to show their support by participating in either the 1km Little Heroes Walk or the 3km, 5km, 10km and half marathon runs.
There is also live entertainment all day, food stalls and plenty of fun day activities for the whole community.
Neuroblastoma Australia President, Lucy Jones, started Run2Cure back in 2013 with a group of friends and 400 runners in Sydney Park. Since then, it has succeeded Lucy’s wildest expectations, with the driving force being the deep desire to find a cure for neuroblastoma.
Profits from Run2Cure go to leading neuroblastoma research projects.
Neuroblastoma is a solid tumour of childhood cancer. It develops from nerve cells called neuroblasts. These cells are most commonly found in the adrenal glands (above the kidney) and along the tissues around the spinal cord.
There are no known reasons as to why this cancer occurs and there are no clear environmental links. There are rare cases where neuroblastoma runs in families due to a genetic mutation, but in most cases there is no known genetic cause.
Neuroblastoma is a very complex cancer and there are many different types that behave very differently. At one end of the spectrum are benign tumours that may even resolve spontaneously, while at the other end are aggressive tumours with an average survival rate of 40%.
The cure rate for these “high-risk” tumours has only improved marginally in recent years but there is clear hope that this rate will change with some new drug discoveries coming through.
We need to improve treatments so they are more effective and less toxic and the way to do this is through research.
Key statistics about neuroblastoma
- Neuroblastoma claims more lives of children under the age of five than any other cancer.
- The average age of diagnosis is just two years old.
- The average five-year survival rate for aggressive neuroblastoma is only 50%.
- A third of the survivors of neuroblastoma have long-term side effects from the toxicity of their treatment. Side effects include hearing loss, infertility and an increased risk of getting a secondary cancer.
Neuroblastoma Australia is a registered charity.
Its origins date back to 2008 when Lucy Jones started fundraising after her little baby girl Sienna was diagnosed with high-risk neuroblastoma in 2008.
In 2010, another Mother, Michaela Flanagan who also had a little baby girl, Ciara, diagnosed with neuroblastoma joined Lucy and the charity Neuroblastoma Australia was created.
Lucy’s little girl, Sienna Hoffmann, tragically lost her battle to neuroblastoma when she was just two and a half years old and remains the inspiration behind the charity to this day.
Ciara is a survivor. This sadly represents the reality of aggressive neuroblastoma as currently only half of the children diagnosed survive.
The mission of Neuroblastoma Australia is to raise awareness of neuroblastoma childhood cancer, raise much-needed funds for research into neuroblastoma and provide information and support to those affected.
The organisation is also focused on creating networks and providing information about the disease to families affected by neuroblastoma.
To date, more than $2.3 million has been raised through a number of peer-to-peer and charity organised fundraising events, the largest of which is Run2Cure Neuroblastoma.
The event was held for the first time in 2013 in Sydney Park and due to its success moved the location to The Domain near Sydney’s CBD.
Other events hosted by Neuroblastoma Australia include Sienna’s Gala Dinner, Golf2Cure Neuroblastoma, Trek2Cure Neuroblastoma, Walk2Cure Neuroblastoma and Ride2Cure Neuroblastoma.
The Neuroblastoma Australia Committee consists of seven members, three of which have been directly affected by neuroblastoma and one research doctor. The charity is audited by Moore Stephens Accountants.
Funds raised go into supporting leading research projects, for example The Children’s Cancer Institute has received $1.6 million from Neuroblastoma Australia to date.
Visit the Neuroblastoma Australia main site to learn more about why research is so important, our latest research projects and get to know our grant recipients.