In a room filled with generosity, courage and quiet determination, the 7th Annual Breakfast for Brain Cancer unfolded on Friday, May 23, at the Royal Motor Yacht Club in Point Piper.
Overlooking the calm waters of Sydney Harbour, guests gathered for a powerful morning of community, storytelling and fundraising in support of The Brain Cancer Group (TBCG) and its critical research and patient support work.
Hosted by the White Pearl Foundation, the event marked Brain Cancer Awareness Month and raised vital funds for research, education and care. Guests were welcomed with drinks and breakfast, then invited to bid on an array of raffle prizes and handmade goods, with 100% of proceeds going directly to brain cancer research.
Founder Suzane Peponis-Brisimis opened the event with an emotional address that honoured patients, carers and donors past and present. She acknowledged the many organisations in attendance.
“This event is held in honour of all those affected by brain cancer,” she told the crowd. “And every dollar raised today will help advance treatment, support families, and fuel the research we so desperately need.”
A frontline look at hope: Dr Alexander Yuile’s address
First to speak was Dr Alexander Yuile, Medical Oncologist and Brain Cancer Group Research Fellow, who offered a compelling overview of current breakthroughs taking place at the Bill Walsh Translational Cancer Research Laboratory – Brain Group, housed on the Royal North Shore Hospital campus, in the Kolling Institute of Medical Research.
Using analogies drawn from Sydney’s iconic yacht races, Dr Yuile described his lab team as a “crew” navigating the complexities of glioblastoma. He highlighted the lab’s ability to fast-track scientific discoveries into clinical practice thanks to their location, collaborative strength and access to vast tumour samples, imaging databases and patient records.
Among their most promising projects is the repurposing of existing drugs to target cancer-driving gene mutations such as CDKN2A.
“Cancer removes the brakes,” he explained. “It turns a normal train into a runaway bullet train. We’re finding ways to put the brakes back on.”
He also spoke of adapting prostate cancer imaging technology to monitor aggressive brain tumours like gliosarcoma — a technique already influencing clinical decisions. Additionally, Dr Yuile shared insights into cutting-edge immune therapy research, including virus-based treatments and personalised vaccines designed to trigger the body’s defences.
“Every time a trial begins or a result emerges, it brings us closer to better treatments,” he said. “None of this would be possible without the support of the Brain Cancer Group — and all of you in this room.”
Emily Kirk: A voice of vulnerability and strength
The most unforgettable moment of the event came from Emily Kirk, a 30-year-old mother who shared her personal journey as a patient with raw honesty and grace.
Diagnosed with a brain tumour shortly after the birth of her daughter, Emily recalled the shock of her MRI results, the fear of holding a newborn while being told the unthinkable, and the moment she felt the world drop out from beneath her.
“This doesn’t happen to young, healthy women in their 30s,” she said. “But knowing what I know now – it does.”
She credited Dr Michael Back and the Brain Cancer Group with restoring her sense of control. “I had finally landed in the safety net after weeks of falling through air,” she said. “That meeting gave me euphoric relief – it was December 23. What a great Christmas gift.”
Now, Emily approaches life with a renewed sense of clarity, gratitude and realism. “Preparing for my death has become part of my daily life,” she shared. “And I’m okay with that. The perspective this diagnosis has given me is a blessing.”
With quiet strength, she described raising her daughter while preparing them for a future that may or may not include her – and how every scientific advance brings her hope.
“Every time a new study comes out, a trial starts, or a drug is released, I’m so thrilled,” she said. “Even if it doesn’t directly impact me, it gives me confidence to keep going… to live without the dark cloud hanging over me.”
A community that carries hope
From the dedicated researchers in the lab to the patients who embody resilience, the 7th Annual Breakfast for Brain Cancer was a powerful display of solidarity and progress. It reminded attendees that while the fight against brain cancer remains one of Australia’s toughest medical challenges, every effort, no matter how small, is part of a larger movement for change.
With moving speeches, generous donations and a shared resolve to make a difference, this year’s event once again proved that compassion and commitment can light the way forward.
To donate or learn more, visit www.whitepearlfoundation.org.
The Greek Herald is proud to stand alongside the White Pearl Foundation and The Brain Cancer Group as a media partner in this ongoing mission.
