Hunter Bio-Medical Scientist and pioneering Cancer Researcher, Dr Matt Dun is appealing for business support as he prepares to lead a team that will tackle a 20-kilometre swim to raise funds for research into the terminal cancer that claimed his young daughter.
Associate Professor and Cancer Researcher at the University of Newcastle and Hunter Medical Research Institute, Matt lost Josie, aged four, in December 2019.
This came almost two years after she was diagnosed with the brain stem cancer Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG).
RUN DIPG is a Hunter-based charity that was founded by Matt and his GP wife, Phoebe as a vehicle for their network of family, friends and supporters to raise funds and awareness for DIPG research via running, hiking, cycling, paddling, dancing and swimming events.
The next event on RUN DIPG’s events calendar is the 20km swim challenge at the iconic Merewether Baths on 7 February.
Mat is a National Health and Medical Research Council Investigator, whose career has been decorated with more than 20 national and global awards – and he will lead the swim team.
The 20km target is symbolic: 1km will be swum for every child who is diagnosed and who will die from DIPG in Australia each year.
More than twenty per cent of all childhood deaths from cancer and from DIPG, the leading killer of children in the developed world.
RUN DIPG relies on corporate assistance to fund its research as it approaches what Matt has described as a colossal year for its laboratory work toward cracking the code of DIPG and offering children diagnosed with the disease a fighting chance.
“It’s a very big year at RUN DIPG as we help to fund the movement of treatments developed in Dun Lab into the clinic aimed at increasing survival for kids diagnosed with DIPG,” he said.
“Our work is part of an International clinical trial DMG-ACT, based in San Francisco and heading to the Hunter soon.
“The treatments we have helped to develop are probably not the silver bullet, so our team is working tirelessly in the pursuit of options that may compliment these strategies, improve them and to collaborate with international investigators to do all we can to improve outcomes.”
RUN DIPG has set a goal of raising $50,000 with its RUN DIPG DIVE INTO THE PONS event at Merewether Baths.
Belmont 16s has come on board as the major sponsor, but Matt is urging other Hunter businesses to join the club in sponsoring or supporting this vital community cause.
“Your organisation’s brand will be promoted by our team and acknowledged by our legion of supporters in Australian and abroad,” Matt said.
More information on RUN DIPG can be found on their website.
IMAGE | Dr Matt Dun will lead the RUN DIPG team on 7 February at Merewether Baths.
