Amy was a feisty little redhead who loved ballet, athletics, singing at the school talent show and wearing monster teeth. In her dad’s words, she was an ‘unstoppable force.’ Devastatingly, at age 7, Amy was diagnosed with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), an extremely aggressive childhood brain tumour for which there is no known cure. Just 16 months after diagnosis, DIPG would claim Amy’s life. After Amy’s passing, Amy’s dad Ren set about to change the future for children diagnosed with DIPG. ‘Since we lost Amy, I’ve used every ounce of energy to raise money for research that will find the answers to DIPG. My pledge to our little angel is to do everything in my power to find a cure,’ he said.

Ren is embarking on a Million Dollar Mission to raise vital funds for much‑needed research into DIPG. He is travelling across Australia to rally the support of individuals and businesses who believe, like he does, that every child deserves a future. 

By bringing people together and inspiring generosity at every level, Ren aims to raise a total of $1,000,000 to help accelerate critical research into DIPG that will help find a cure for this devastating disease.

Researchers in the Brain Tumours Group are advancing new treatments for DIPG by focusing on both the cancer cells themselves and the environment in which they grow. Their work has shown that pathways controlling cell death are critical to the tumour’s survival, with early drug studies already demonstrating promising results. Building on this, the team aims to identify the most effective drug combinations through advanced technology and genetic screening, with the goal of progressing to clinical trials. At the same time, they are analysing patient tissue samples to better understand how tumour cells interact with surrounding brain cells, including neurons, astrocytes, and immune cells. By mapping these complex relationships, they hope to uncover how the tumour grows, evades the immune system, and resists treatment, ultimately leading to more targeted therapies and improved outcomes for patients. 

A big thank you to everyone who has donated