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Victorian real estate agency hockingstuart has raised over $94,000 for Australia’s largest fundraising event for paediatric brain cancer, Connor’s Run.
Connor’s Run has been raising millions of dollars since its first run in 2013. It’s a cause that’s close to the hearts of everyone at hockingstuart, with 205 team members participating in the event which was held earlier this month along Melbourne’s foreshore.
Hockingstuart CEO Simon Jovanovic said that the agency first came across the charity last year through its Albert Park office.
“The founder of the Robert Connor Dawes Foundation, Connor’s mum, Liz Dawes, came down to the Albert Park office and talked to the team about Connor’s fight against brain cancer.
“We were so touched by her story that the entire hockingstuart network decided to get behind the cause and support Australian families who are affected by the disease.”
He said that it has carried forward to this year.
“This year, Liz’s story inspired our teams to put on their runners and participate in Connor’s Run 2018, raising the money for a worthy cause thanks to the generosity of hockingstuart customers, staff, family and friends. This figure is almost double hockingstuart’s original goal of $50,000 and more than three times the amount they raised in 2017.”
Hockingstuart Albert Park’s Loic Mamet, a participant, recalled the impact Connor’s mother’s words had on the team.
“It really touched our hearts hearing that it all started as a legacy for her son Connor,” Mr Mamet said.
“At hockingstuart, we’re involved with our local communities all day, every day — the community is what keeps us alive, so it’s great to be able to help the Robert Connor Dawes Foundation and give back in some way.”
Connor’s mother, Liz Dawes, expressed her gratitude.
“From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank everyone at hockingstuart for their incredible effort and enthusiasm on the day,” Ms Dawes said.
“Paediatric brain cancer is the number one cancer killer for young Australians, and with your support, we can change those odds.”
Connor’s Run
Connor’s Run raised over $1 million to go directly towards Australia’s first DNA Tissue Testing Centre at Monash’s Children’s Cancer Centre.
In November 2011, Robert Connor Dawes was diagnosed with brain cancer. He was only 17 years old at the time and in the midst of training for the upcoming rowing season in Melbourne. Major surgery resulted in a loss of movement to his right side, impaired vision and severe short-term memory loss. He completed intense radiation and chemotherapy, but the disease was malicious and after 16 months of fighting, Connor lost his battle with ependymoma.
This heartbreak is what motivated his mum, Liz Dawes, to create Connor’s Run and The Robert Connor Dawes Foundation, which helps support fundraising efforts that beat the disease.
“We were determined to do everything in our power to ensure no family ever had to experience the heartache we did,” Ms Dawes said.
“But this event is about more than just raising money; it’s about celebrating Connor’s life and the courage he mustered in the face of adversity. There was live music and entertainment along the course and a fantastic after-party along the Yarra — it was truly a great atmosphere. I know Connor would have loved it.”
Connor’s Run has now completed its sixth event. Participants run 18.8km from Sandringham to the boatsheds on the Yarra, and they have raised more than $3.2 million since the fun run’s inception.
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