A$979.66
Raised
16
Donations
A$50,000
Goal
Cancer is always unfair but sometimes its timing is particularly cruel.
Imagine for a moment that you’re a 22-year-young man on the brink of independent adult life.
You’ve just completed university, landed a graduate position with a good company,
moved into an apartment with your girlfriend, and you’re saving money for a dream overseas trip. And then you find a strange lump on your shoulder blade …
In May this year Jacques Mathot was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma, an aggressive cancer of bone and connective tissue which has a notoriously poor survival rate.
Like many young Ewings patients, Jac’s painful shoulder was initially misdiagnosed as a sports injury. By the time scans had been done, the tumour in his scapula was ten centimetres across and the cancer had spread to his pelvis and spine.
Jac is now undergoing high-dose chemotherapy and is about to start radiotherapy, a punishing treatment regime which he is facing with remarkable good humour.
But while the tumours are shrinking, the oncologists know from bitter experience that the cancer is highly likely to develop resistance to the treatment and return with a vengeance.
Jac’s odds of being cured by conventional treatment, his team say, are only one-in-four.
For decades there have been no significant advances in the treatment of Ewing sarcoma.
Now, almost miraculously, Jac has another treatment option which has emerged. Molecular profiling of his cancer through Omico Australia, has found that his tumour may be a potential match to a revolutionary new breast cancer drug called Enhertu. This drug is showing efficacy when there is an expression of the protein, HER2.
Jac’s doctors believe this option is worth trying.
Enhertu is not covered by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme for the treatment of sarcoma, and AstraZeneca, the pharmaceutical company, has declined to provide compassionate access. Jac's family must therefore source the cost of the drug which could be upwards of $120,000.
If the money can be raised, Jac could become a textbook example of an exciting new approach to cancer treatment, which involves prescribing a drug not previously used to treat a cancer it has been genomically profiled to match.
It’s about giving the right drug to the right patient, at the right time – a targeted approach that has proven to be six times more effective than one-size-fits-many chemotherapies. (Prof David Thomas, CEO of Omico, the Australian Genomic Cancer Medicine Centre. 26 June, 2024)
Please help Jac to have the chance to resume the life he dreams of and has worked so hard for. In doing so, you’ll also be highlighting a potential way forward for other rare cancer sufferers who find that conventional cancer treatments are not enough and who might benefit from new and emerging therapies..
The family would be delighted if you could join them on Saturday night, November 16, at the Olympic Hotel in Paddington for a party to raise money for Jac’s potentially life-saving treatment.
They are taking over the whole pub for a night of live music, DJs, and a celebrity auction. Your ticket will include wine, beer, food, and the satisfaction of knowing that you’ve helped a great young man in desperate need.
EVENT DETAILS
Saturday 16 November 2024
The Olympic Hotel
308 Moore Park Rd, Paddington NSW 2021
From 6pm
Your tickets include:
- Wine, beer and bubbles (3-hour package)
- Roaming food
- Live music by Jacqueline Amidy (Ex Castanet Club)
- DJ's
- Most importantly, a charity auction with lots of great prizes
The Cooper Rice-Brading Foundation (CRBF)
The aim of CRBF is to fund clinical research to find a cure for sarcoma, while raising awareness of sarcoma in the greater community in an effort to promote early diagnosis, and to provide support for sarcoma patients and their families.
CRBF is a charitable entity which operates entirely on voluntary expertise, and does not pay salaries. All tax deductible donations go directly to the stated cause(s).
The Cooper Rice-Brading will double every dollar donated to the Jac Mathot Charity Fundraiser to the value of $35,000.
All monies raised through the CRBF portal will be directed to Jac's experimental treatment(s) and associated costs incurred by the family whilst Jac undergoes treatment.
Donor Wall7
Mo Bishop | A$21.31
Hopefully you will get the money raised for this lovely young man
Jan Pryor | A$100
Declan Crane | A$100
Will be there bro more than happy to help
Donald Cox | A$104.59
Thinking of you Jac.
Linda
I wish you the best beautiful Jacques, I wish for you to get better ,and your treatment helps you ,I pray 🙏 for you this can help you ,and live a beautiful and happy and healthy life surrounded by your family and friends, sending you love 💜love from Linda💜
David | A$208.70
Hi Jac and family, I'm sorry I can't be there but hope this helps. All the best mate!
Josie | A$52.54
Stay positive Jac, you've got this buddy!