The Kids’ Cancer Project Better Challenge and commit to 90kms for the 90 kids who are diagnosed with cancer each month.
To mark Childhood Cancer Awareness Month this September, The Kids’ Cancer Project is urging Aussies to challenge themselves to do BETTER for kids with cancer with the return of the annual Better Challenge fundraiser.
Whether you walk, run, cycle or swim, the Better Challenge is encouraging individuals to complete 90km throughout September, backed by community fundraising, to support research that can help kids like rugby-obsessed Hugo Kulcsar, who was diagnosed with leukaemia at just 11 years old.
The number 90 represents the 90 children who are diagnosed with cancer every month in Australia, and the harsh truth that 90% will experience chronic health conditions later in life from cancer treatment in their youth.
This year’s proceeds will go towards vital research that support kids like Hugo who was faced with an acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) diagnosis after discovering a lump on his neck during his year 6 maths class.
Being a keen rugby player, Hugo thought nothing of it until a few games later when he felt unwell and told his mum Denai. Shortly after, Hugo was diagnosed with ALL and was told his kidneys were failing.
Hugo recalls, “When I was told I had cancer, I was in shock. I thought that was it for me. All I knew was that you could die from it, because that’s what happened to my grandfather”. Hugo’s intense treatment saw him lose a quarter of his body weight as he endured intense therapy, a brain blood clot and severe burns during treatment. Despite the odds, Hugo persevered.
Now 17, Hugo is an apprentice carpenter, a rugby player for Randwick Rugby Club, and a Better Challenge ambassador. Hugo understands first-hand the impact that physical activity has on childhood cancer recovery – a cause that Accredited
Hugo Better Challenge
Exercise Physiologist and 2023 Col Reynolds Fellow Dr David Mizrahi is passionate about researching further, to unlock the magic of movement in kids’ cancer recovery.
Dr. Mizrahi discovered a passion for exercise support when he began working at the Sydney Children’s Hospital and realised none of the kids were receiving exercise support, prompting him to pursue a PhD to research the links between exercise in childhood cancer patients.
“Cancer treatments can be so debilitating, over the short and long term. Almost 99% of childhood cancer survivors develop at least one chronic condition…. After cancer treatment, kids are 10 to 15 more times likely to get heart disease, and 10 times more likely to suffer other conditions like diabetes, osteoporosis, accelerated ageing frailty and many other conditions. We know exercise can help reduce these risks”, says Dr. Mizrahi
After successful results with a 10-year-old netballer, Dr. Mizrahi realised the impact of customised fitness plans. Now in exercise oncology research, he advocates for early intervention to promote active lifestyles in pursuit of preventing future chronic diseases.
Better Challenge photoshoot 2024
The Kids’ Cancer Project is funding this kind of innovative research through Better Challenge donations and is calling on Australians to get involved today and support the development of better treatments for better cancer care for Aussie kids.
Register now at betterchallenge.org.au to support better treatments, better outcomes and better cancer care for Aussie kids.
