The MAMIL** rides again!
As you might recall, last year we continued our fundraising for the Children’s Cancer Institute on the Alps2Ocean bike ride in New Zealand. Finley's two best friends - Charlie and Levon - joined us with their families to ride the 300ms over 4 days from Mt Cook to the coast.
Earlier this year we found out that Charlie's dad Nick was suddenly diagnosed with leukaemia - a shock to him, his family and his friends. But with the amazing treatments now available Nick is thankfully in full remission.
Nick has asked me to join him on this year's Life Ride - a charity ride in the Margaret River WA from 24-26 November in support of the Leukaemia Foundation (https://www.liferide.org.au/register-life-ride-2019). I'm not a road cyclist by any stretch but I didn't hesitate for a moment.
And so Nick and I will be pulling on the lycra to join the other 60 odd riders in this year's Life Ride - 380 kms over 3 days - to help raise funds to beat blood cancer which, in children, is the most commonly diagnosed type of cancer, accounting for 30% of all diagnoses in Australia.
But I will also be doing the ride to honour our Finley and in support of the research of the Children’s Cancer Institute.
**Middle Aged Man in Lycra (but not by choice)
8 children, 5 adults, 13 bikes, 300 kms, 4 days....
Last year we rode from Saigon to Angkor Wat and so far have raised an amazing $95,000 out of our $100,000 target!!
This October, the Fair Warriors will be riding again - this time the Alsp2Ocean train New Zealand from Mt Cook to the sea at Oamaru on New Zealand's spectacular South Island.
Alps2Ocean bike ride
This time we are teaming up with the families of Finley’s two best friends - Charlie and Levon - and their siblings. 13 of us in total from ages 7 to 53!
We are aiming to raise another $100,000 over the next year through our bike ride and a range of other fundraising activities leading up to the trip.
You can follow us on the Alps2Ocean ride and our fundraising efforts at the Fair Warriors Facebook page.
Kick cancer's butt with Commando Steve's bootcamp fundraiser
To get ourselves into shape for the Alps2Ocean bike ride, we have teamed up with Commando Steve and Inner West Outdoor Fitness for a fundraising family bootcamp on 9 September at Jubilee Park, Glebe NSW 2037 (Meet in front of Hilda Booler Kindergarten).
Bring your friends and families! You can join in by registering here.
Fair Warriors
On 15 September 2017 we lost our darling 9-year old son and brother - Finley Wright Curnow - to a deadly DIPG brain tumour. It’s an aggressive childhood cancer for which there is no cure - yet!
In honour of Finley - and to prevent other children suffering the same - we have started our Fair Warriors community on Facebook to be ambassadors and raise funds for all the amazing research work that the Children’s Cancer Institute is doing to find cures and treatments for children’s cancer - in particular brain tumours.
Last October we committed to raising $100,000 in 12 months.
To kick our fundraising efforts off, last October we Cycled for Finley - Mum Kate, Dad Paul, and big brothers Jacob and Liam, cycled from Saigon to Angkor Wat - 300 kilometres in 5 days.
Through the generous support of our family, friends, schools and community clubs we have reached our target of $100,000 in 12 months! All of these funds gone directly to support the brain cancer research programs at the Children's Cancer Institute being led by Finley’s treating oncologist - Associate Professor David Ziegler.
Helping fund children's brain cancer research
From Finley's diagnosis to his death, it was only 6 months to the day. He was 9 years old. And nothing in the world nor the infinite universe could have prepared us for those 6 months. It is something that no one should ever have to experience - not the child, not the parents, not the siblings, not the grandparents, uncles and aunts, not the best friends and class mates, not the village and community - no one.
We lost a brave and funny, irreverant and cheeky, observant and empathic boy - his life way too short.
Brain tumours - including DIPG - are the most common form of tumours among children and funding more research into brain cancers is vitally important. Finley’s treating oncologist - Associate Professor David Ziegler - is a Group Leader at Children's Cancer Institute and he and his laboratory research program at the Children’s Cancer Institute, Australia focuses on the development of novel therapies for childhood cancer, with a particular emphasis on brain tumours. One area of Dr Ziegler’s particular research focus is on the tumour that Finley had - DIPG.
DIPG is the most aggressive and devastating of all childhood malignancies, surgery is not possible due to the tumour's sensitive location within the brainstem. Patients do not respond to chemotherapy, and radiation therapy only briefly delays tumour progression. Due to this, new approaches are desperately needed and funding for research in this area is vitally important. The biggest problem any research into DIPG tumours has faced, has been the lack of DIPG tumour tissue - this is because surgery is usually impossible. Children's Cancer Institute has solved this by establishing protocols to create the world’s first ever bank of DIPG tumour samples. And Finley has supported these efforts by giving his tumour to research.
"We are curing childhood cancer. It’s not if. It’s when".
Professor Michelle Haber AM Executive Director | Children's Cancer Institute
- Leichhardt Saints FC just donated $6,000
- Bryan , Sharon and Vanessia just donated $105.50
- Jacob Wright Curnow just donated $515
- Leichhardt Saints FC just donated $5,000
- Andrea just donated $25
- Juliet just donated $25
- Nigel Johnston just donated $250
- Kirstyn just donated $200
- Louisa and James just donated $50
- George Catsi just donated $75
- Anonymous just donated $250
- The Collyers just donated $50
- The Herrick Family just donated $400
- Ruben and Luka Loasby just donated $25
- Phena and Duncan, Ruben and Luka just donated $200
- Jackie, John, Rory and Sid just donated $100
- William & Josephine just donated $25
- Anonymous just donated $250
- Fattorini family just donated $200
- Elsabeth and Sean just donated $100
A big thank you to our Supporters
The real heroes who are kindly helping us achieve our goal
Leichhardt Saints Fc
$6k
Bryan , Sharon And Vanessia
$106
Jacob Wright Curnow
$515
Leichhardt Saints Fc
Our annual charity round donation for the 2021 season
$5k
Cate Walsh
Dear Paul How incredible to raise so much for such a worthy cause. Cate
$200
Gilles Walgenwitz
$50
Pamela Dayanim
$100
David Jones
Supporting a wonderful father in a wonderful cause. Thank you for all that you do, Paul.
$150
Anonymous
$30
David And Katrina Cooper And Family
Well done on the ride, Paul and for all you do for the cause and to honour Finley.
$100
Kate, Paul, Jacob & Liam
Chris & Jana Wedding donation. Remembering Finley.
$250
Anna Maloney
Well done Paul
$100
Lucas Tyszkiewicz & Eve Burgess
$100
Chris Wilson
Best wishes to you and your family and best of luck on the ride!
$250
Joanna Hanvey
A massive well done to you all!
$25
The Greenmartinis
Ride well Paul! We hope you get a few well-earned Margaret River semillons at the end.
$100
Anonymous
$100
Anonymous
$100
Cameron Kelly
Ride well Paul! Great stuff.
$50
Anne-marie Allgrove
Good luck for the ride - what a huge effort
$500
Murray
$100
The Barrys
Great mates great charities and great distances .....sending great love and admiration xx
$250
Michelle & Richard Blunt
Amazing effort!
$500
Mike Webb
All the best Paul and Nick, hope the ride goes well and congrats in advance!
$250
Savannah
Great cause! Wishing you luck!
$25
Nigel Johnston
Good luck Paul!
$250
Anonymous
$50
Mark D
$100
Ludovic
All the best Paul and Nick!
$100
Rani
Wishing you all the best for the ride, and in the ongoing challenge to find a cure for cancer.
$100
James Harding
Good luck Paul and Nick
$100
Dan Tebbutt
Pedal harder, Homer!
$100
Anonymous
$250
Daniel Joyce
Good luck for your ride in WA Paul! Sending our love.
$100
Anonymous
$250
Anonymous
$100
Tiffany Huang
$1,000
Lauren Kirkwood
$100
Anonymous
$40
Werner Pickart
$100
Emily & Paul
Good luck Paul - I hope your legs are up to the challenge! Love to you all and thinking of Finley. x
$50
Anonymous
$30
Finley's Friends
Thinking of you daily.
$50
Jacob ?stergaard
Dear Paul, have a fantastic ride in a few weeks time. Hugs and Love to the family. Cheers
$100
Natalie A Bulwer
To always remember Finley
$100
Harrie Bantick
All of our support behind you Paul. An incredible cause.
$100
Rob And Elsa Curnow
Good on you paul
$200
Aileen
Good luck!
$50
Karen Gould
$100
Peter A Cook
$25
Dan Stilwell
$100
Teresa
Have an amazing ride Paul & Nick. Best of luck.
$75
Bryan Paisley
$100
Anonymous
$25
Andres Maasing
$25
Sharona
$25
Anonymous
$100
Kate Gillingham
$100
Kate Phillips And The Clutterbucks
$100
Sarah Merrett
Good luck for the ride!
$50
Maxine Ethier
$100
Christian
Alles Liebe. Wir denken an Euch. Christian + Family
$250
Rob Kelly
Paul, I am full of admiration. Great work and all the very best! Rob
$100
Rina Sproat
Best wishes on the ride and support to you and the entire family from afar.
$100
Amanda Ludlow
Well done Paul. I think of you and Kate often. Much love. Amanda
$100
Liz
Reaching the pedal and with every turn it's going to get us nearer to the cure! Liz
$50
James Geremia
$150
Rick Troiano
$100
Amelia Kidd
$100
Natalya Bremen
$100
Ingrams
$250
Kate Jefferson And Matt O'donnell
$100
Kate Muir
$100
Georgie Farrant
$200
Kate Dryden
$50
Anonymous
$50
Lynsey Edgar
$50
Jayme Hendriks
$25
Ai Ai Wong
$500
Amy Middlebrook & Lawrence Mendes
$100
Gavin Raftery
$250
Sarah Stokoe
Amazing initiative. All the best!!
$100
Leichhardt Saints Fc
Our Charity Sock Round donation for the 2019 season
$3.64k
Penny Zampelas
In loving memory
$50
Anonymous
$50
Douglas Family
In memory of Finley's courage and his family's love xx
$100
Jillian Sass
following on from our nephew Emile cycling for Fin in New Zealand. Such a worthy cause.
$40
Catsi-kwasners
$170
Helen S
So proud of you all xxx
$75
Willis Family
$100
From Charlotte And Ben
$25
Anonymous
$75
Bill And Meg Liston
Great cause , all the best
$100
Richard & Michelle Blunt
Rather late, but heartfelt. Best, R
$250
Javier Blanco Fernandez
$100
Wolf-daffy Family
Love in every pedal - we are with you in Spirit!
$50
With Support
many sincere condolences for the loss of your beautiful boy and wishes for a cure to come quickly
$25
Petersham Public School Family
$30
Christian
Dear Paul, All the best to you and your family! Alles Liebe, Christian
$250
Leichhardt Public School
Fundraiser organised by the Leichhardt Public School SRC
$778
Our charity round donation for the 2023 season