The Lott by Golden Casket has announced a $1.5 million gift to boost world-first research into childhood brain cancer – the deadliest disease facing Australian children.
Funding research and care
The Lott by Golden Casket’s donation consists of $1 million from state lottery taxes towards the Children’s Hospital Foundation’s work supporting sick kids and their families, and $500,000 from unclaimed prize money towards the Australian-first Children’s Brain Cancer Centre – which was established in 2020 thanks to a $5 million commitment from the Children’s Hospital Foundation.
This is the seventh year in a row that The Lott’s funding will help accelerate the work of Children’s Brain Cancer Centre, where researchers are working on life-saving innovations, such as a potential vaccine for brain tumours and how the drug Palbociclib can boost the effectiveness of radiotherapy.
Children’s Hospital Foundation Chief Executive Officer, Lyndsey Rice, said sustained investment from long-term partners like The Lott was vital to changing the odds for kids with the toughest diagnoses.
“Unlike many other cancers, progress in childhood brain cancer has been painfully slow. Survival rates have barely improved in three decades, largely because research in this field is chronically underfunded,” Ms Rice said.
“The Lott’s unwavering partnership represents far more than dollars. It’s reliable, year-round funding that gives researchers the confidence to plan, collaborate and test new treatments – and for families, it represents hope.”
This generous donation was presented on Queensland Children’s Hospital’s 11th birthday, which coincided with Children’s Hospital Foundation’s ‘Foundation Fun Day’ – giving everyone involved a lot more to celebrate.
Working towards new breakthroughs
Heartbreakingly, brain cancer kills an Australian child every nine days.
With this devastating statistic in mind, researchers at Children’s Brain Cancer Centre are working tirelessly to improve the survival and survivorship for children diagnosed with brain cancer.
A recent discovery found that the drug CT-179 could delay the recurrence of the tumour medulloblastoma, a common type of malignant brain tumour which accounts for 20% of all childhood brain cancers, in laboratory models.
This finding is set to be moved to the Children’s Brain Cancer Centre for further application, leading to new combination therapies that are less toxic, more effective and improve outcomes for child patients.
Advancing childhood brain cancer worldwide
The long-term support from The Lott has enabled Children’s Brain Cancer Centre researchers to take innovative approaches and has provided a funding horizon that encourages significant advances.
In 2026, the world’s first trial in children using mRNA vaccines to treat cancer will be opened nationally to children with brain cancer – an initiative of the Centre that will be delivered with partners in every paediatric cancer centre in Australia.
The Lott spokesperson, Matt Hart, said he hoped this year’s donation will pave the way for world-leading breakthroughs for not only Queensland children, but children worldwide.
“It’s thanks to our customers and retailers that we have a proud, long legacy of supporting sick kids through the Children’s Hospital Foundation,” Mr Hart said.
“Through this partnership, we hope our contribution continues to make these impactful differences in paediatric care.”
The difference that shapes their world
Through supporting the Children’s Hospital Foundation, you can improve childhoods and ensure all children and young people have access to treatment - sooner.
