Walk4Life and Volvo Cars Raise Awareness for Brain Cancer

SYDNEY – Oct 31, 2011: The Cure For Life Foundatio and Volvo Cars will join together to raise awareness for brain cancer on November 13 at the annual Walk4Life event.

Brain cancer is now the leading terminal disease in children and it is hoped the event will raise $200,000 towards brain cancer research.

Proudly supported by Volvo Cars, Walk4Life is an initiative of the Cure For Life Foundation which is devoted to saving the lives of people suffering from brain cancer.

Walk4Life is a family event that sees participants walk, run or jog for an hour (between 10am and 11am) around a 2km course within Centennial Park. How many laps is up to you! Afterwards everyone is invited to come along and enjoy a BBQ prepared by Volvo ambassador Luke Mangan. 100% of funds raised go to the Cure For Life Foundation for brain cancer research.

Australian Ballet coryphée Halaina Hills will be participating as will members of Super Rugby club, Waratahs.

Volvo ambassador and entertainment reporter for Channel 9, Richard Wilkins is also expected to attend as are fellow Volvo ambassadors, Olympic sprinter and Fox Sports presenter Matt Shirvington and former world 500c motorcycle champion Wayne Gardner.

Volvo Car Australia and the Volvo dealer network’s support of Walk4Life is an extension of their long standing commitment to Cure For Life Foundation. In 2010 Volvo pledged $250,000 in support of world-renowned neurosurgeon, Dr Charlie Teo’s brain cancer research foundation.

Despite a seven percent increase in new brain cancer cases in Australia over the past decade, research funding and survival rates have remained low. Volvo Car’s support is providing vital long-term funding and stability for the foundation.

“We don’t know what causes brain cancer or how to cure it, and as such, much research is required to continue to improve our treatment methods,'' said Cure For Life Foundation founder and leading neurosurgeon, Dr Charlie Teo. “This contribution from Volvo Cars will have a huge impact on our long-term ability to support the researchers who are knocking on our door, determined to find a cure for this indiscriminating silent killer.”

Volvo Car Australia managing director Matt Braid said: “Volvo Car Australia’s core philosophy is that life is more than the car you drive. Life is your family, your loved ones and your health. We are committed to supporting Dr Teo and his vision for Cure for Life Foundation – that one day, people diagnosed with brain cancer can be told they have a manageable disease and enjoy a better quality of life.”

There are more than 1500 newly diagnosed cases of brain cancer each year, with no significant improvements in survival rates over the last two decades. A vicious silent killer that can affect anyone at any age, patients go from full health to being incapacitated within months.

Less than 25 per cent of patients diagnosed with brain cancer will live past two years, and most will die within 12 months of diagnosis.

The Cure For Life Foundation™ was established by the world-renowned neurosurgeon Dr Charlie Teo to help fund advancements in the treatment of brain cancer, hopefully one day leading to a cure. Dr Teo continues to develop new and innovative surgical techniques. Currently he works at the Prince of Wales Private Hospital in Sydney and is the director of The Centre for Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery.

Register for Walk4Life before 5pm November 4, at www.cureforlife.org.au. If you are not based in Sydney or can't make the event you can donate online.