News

Garage Sale Trail, the recovery edition, is coming to a town near you on Saturday 21 & Sunday 22 November 2020.

This year’s event was all about helping people in the community to make or save money by buying or selling second-hand.

The event is also one about sustainability through diverting valuable resources from landfill.  Someone’s excess goods are often a treasure or much needed item for another person.

For Dainere’s Rainbow this event provided a valuable opportunity to elevate awareness and raise desperately needed funds in these difficult and tumultuous times to bring hope for children diagnosed with brain tumours.

One hundred percent of all sales going directly to the world class research programs and projects the devoted Associate Professor Ziegler and his team are devotedly working on in memory of and as a legacy to Dainere. Always working towards the goal of a cure becoming a reality.

Items we had and ones that several people with a shining light of human kindness donated for the sale were put in the Garage Sale for people in the community to purchase over the two days of the weekend.

The Dainere’s Rainbow Team were able to meet a large variety of people within the Canberra Community and share Dainere’s inspiring story and the advocacy, awareness and fundraising efforts of Dainere’s Rainbow.

Some of those who visited the Garage Sale purchased beautiful gifts to give to their loved ones this Christmas and at the same time they walked away feeling a ‘warm glow’ knowing that they were also helping to make a difference and bring hope to children diagnosed with brain tumours.

We are so grateful to announce that $346.30 was raised and this year that means so very much.

We would like to extend our heartfelt and humble gratitude to Anne and David, Monique and Mark, Bron, Bernadette, Patricia and Sally for their thoughtful and most generous contributions for the Garage Sale and to all those who attended and purchased items.

The extremely talented and creative Kirandeep Grewal from Kiran Design Studio has very kindly chosen to support Dainere’s Rainbow’s incredible work towards raising awareness of childhood brain tumours and fundraising for childhood brain tumour research.

Kiran has a creative business inspired by the flora and fauna of Australia.   Her designs incorporate soft, luxurious accessories: scarves, silk hair ties, wraps & silk clothing (kaftans) are created using high quality silk. Oil paintings, watercolours and textile paintings are also part of her creative process.

Kiran’s designs and art are all about empowering the wearer and sharing and inspiring everyone through her creativity.

She believes in being involved in community Art projects that make a direct impact on the local community.

We are so humbled and grateful by Kiran’s wonderful support to increase awareness and encourage fundraising support for Dainere’s Rainbow.

You can read more about Kiran Designs here https://kirandesignstudio.com/

On Sunday 1^st November, Dainere’s Rainbow were so extremely humbled and honoured to join the incredible Clint and Charmaine from Canberra Cruises & Parties and the marvellous Mel from Mels Massage for a truly splendiferous and special day at the Canberra Cruises & Parties Open Day by the Lake.

It was a rather windy and overcast day where we were set up at Commonwealth Place, Lake Burley Griffin but as the smell of freshly barbequed sausages filled the air, the sun shone and brought many people out for a lovely day by the Lake.

The day was one of working together and supporting each other whilst making a difference and bringing hope.

Many people went aboard the ‘Maid Marion’ for a tour to find out the truly unique and perfect experiences they could have for their next celebration or event and were able to try out the onboard slushies.  Others enjoyed a phenomenal and relaxing neck and shoulder massage by the Lake.  The Dainere’s Rainbow Team were able to speak to several people who were unaware of the work of Dainere’s Rainbow or the shocking statistics of paediatric brain tumours.

All funds raised on the day through the sale of the COVID Safe Sausage Sizzle, slushie sales and seated massages went to Dainere’s Rainbow.  An amazing $99.00 was raised on the day and during these most unprecedented and most difficult times, when all our usual fundraising and awareness raising events have been cancelled, these funds mean more than words can express and allow research to continue.

If you would like to support these incredible local businesses who are helping to make a difference, please consider booking a party on the water with Canberra Cruise & Parties. http://www.canberrapartyboat.com.au/ or book your next remedial or relaxation massage, with the experienced and caring team at Mels Massage. https://www.melsmassage.com.au/

The wonderful Amy and Noelle again went all out in the spookiest of ways this Halloween with their annual Canberra’s Haunted Chop Shop Halloween Display.

They had originally planned to have a highly technical interactive display for 2020, but due to the pandemic those plans had to be changed.  The display that they presented was nothing beyond astonishing and truly in the spirit of everything Halloween and Spooky.  Thunderstorms also added to the effect of the event.

They had less people attend the display than in previous years, however, were so touched and grateful to be able to raise nearly as much as in 2019.  The grand total raised was $513.00.

In 2020, there are so many Charity Organisations doing it ever so tough, with awareness and fundraising opportunities few and far between or non-existent, so the kind-hearted Amy and Noelle reached out to Dainere’s Rainbow and Canberra Pet Rescue.

We remain ever so humbled and grateful to Amy and Noelle for their extraordinary and continued support through Canberra’s Haunted Chop Shop Halloween Display each year.  They are true Champions of Children, bringing the gift of hope and helping to create change for every child diagnosed with a brain tumour.

You may like to visit their incredibly Spooktacular Display in 2021 https://www.facebook.com/thehauntedchopshopcanberra

Many of you would have heard of City2Surf, the world’s largest fun run which is held every year in Sydney. Ever since 2013 I have taken on the challenge of running in this event, tackling the gruelling infamous heartbreak hill, pounding the roads from Hyde Park all the way to the picturesque Bondi Beach for 14km.

In a year that has been so deeply and tumultuously affected by the global pandemic COVID, the usual City2Surf held in August was postponed. Like many other events around the globe it was rescheduled, and the 50^th City2Surf spanned from 16^th to 18^th October, taking on a very different look – it was a virtual run.

Although very different in 2020, I still took on the challenge and it became my eighth year competing in this event.

City2Surf is such an important and emotional one for me, as it was Dainere and I who, back in 2013 decided I would run my first City2Surf to assist Dainere in her prolific, inspiring and selfless awareness and fundraising for paediatric brain tumours.

Dainere so desperately wanted to be there to cheer me across the line and give me a huge hug (she was my number one running supporter); but tragically and cruelly her young life was taken by such an insidious and cruel disease as brain cancer and she did not have this chance.

I run each year now to elevate awareness, raise funds and to honour my beloved little sister and our shared love of running and passion to bring hope to every child diagnosed with a paediatric brain tumour.

I chose a challenging 14km course and selected to run on 18th October.  There was rain on the day prior and storms were predicted on Sunday, the day I was to run, but to have these challenges is absolutely nothing compared to what children diagnosed with brain tumours must endure.

I pushed myself and gave everything I had on the day and had the extraordinary support of my family and my mate, Liam.  As I ran Dainere was constantly in my thoughts.

My official time and a personal best over 14km of 50:15:04, coming 9th overall and 3rd in my age group of 20-29.  At the conclusion of the race, on removing my shoes, I discovered an extremely black and then painful big toe, which led to a three-week recovery.

Through running City2Surf again this year I was able to continue to raise vital awareness and raised $26.10, which in such a difficult year where fundraising has been virtually non-existent is significant: every cent, every dollar, every donation contributes to making a difference.

This year has been very difficult for charities to fundraise due to the restrictions with Covid-19. When we saw Tiny’s Car Challenge we thought it was a great opportunity to raise much needed funds for Dainere’s Rainbow, so we decided to register. We would like to thank Tiny and Elaine Srejic for giving us this wonderful opportunity. We would also like to thank all the generous and thoughtful people who donated to our cause where we placed 9^th in the overall fundraising and raised an incredible $1,936.00 for Dainere’s Rainbow Brain Tumour Research Fund.

David and Anne

In an ambitious event that is believed to have never been done in Australia before, Goran ‘Tiny’ Srejic one of the co-founders of The Green Shed had a goal to raise funds for charity and offer an incentive to those who fundraise.

Tiny’s Car Challenge is part of a new endeavour for Tiny as part of Tiny’s 2.5 where he hopes to eventually raise 2.5 million dollars for charity over five years.

His aim for the Car Challenge was to raise one million dollars.

Firstly, a call went out to charities, to register as a way to generate funds especially during the current tough conditions caused by the pandemic.  The idea then was to have people register and choose a charity to support by fundraising for them.

For the people fundraising there was an incentive, a way to encourage people who normally wouldn’t fundraise, a way to thank them for taking the time to raise funds, give them a pat on the back and show appreciation by offering the opportunity to the top twenty fundraisers to win a car.

The top twenty fundraisers overall (not the charity) at the end of a three-week period 1^st to 21^st August would then get to compete to see who could keep their hand on a car and be the last one standing and get to drive away in the car.

Dainere’s Rainbow was one of the charity groups registered that people could select to fundraise for.  There were two groups of people who selected to raise funds for Dainere’s Rainbow and they raised $1936.00 and $25.00, a total of $1961.00 which we are so extremely humbled and ever so grateful for.

Anne and David Gledhill who raised $1936.00 were also in the Top Twenty Fundraisers coming in 9^th place.  They now have the opportunity to win the car.  That challenge will take place on 3^rd September at Canberra Outlet Centre.

Just because we are currently in the midst of a global pandemic, one that most certainly requires our attention, the reality is that paediatric brain cancer doesn’t hibernate because of COVID-19.  Childhood brain cancer is still ravaging our precious children and it is more crucial than ever that awareness and research is continued.

The reality is that research has been disrupted and slowed down in many areas and understandably there has been a redirection or delay in funding capacity as funds are directed towards much needed COVID-19 research.

Current research is also impacted by restrictions that have reduced numbers and time capacity within research laboratories.  The capacity for having the ability to undertake research through to submission and expert assessment of applications in the area of health and medical research has been dramatically reduced.

Children battling cancer are already immunocompromised and vulnerable to viruses like COVID-19, so it adds extra cause for concern for researchers.

As paediatric brain cancer research programs and projects are virtually funded entirely by Community support and funds raised through events, it is devastating to learn that there currently is a substantial funding shortfall.  This shortfall in funding will potentially have a colossal impact on outcomes and the future for children diagnosed with brain cancer.

The role of philanthropy and community heart is critical and needed more than ever at this time.

This year all of us, no matter who we are, how old we are, where we live or where we work have been profoundly affected by COVID-19.  Here in Canberra our Community and surrounding regions were significantly impacted by fierce, raging and devastating bushfires and thick, hazardous smoke haze and a destructive hailstorm.

Awareness and Fundraising for Dainere’s Rainbow from Christmas 2019 onwards has been severely impacted.  Our Major Gala Fundraising Event that is held in June each year had to be postponed, every single smaller event also had to be postponed or cancelled.  Awareness opportunities were cancelled and will continue to be until the end of the pandemic.

As most would be aware the fund is run entirely by a volunteer base of people with selflessly give their time, hearts, enthusiasm, dedication and passion and because of this then 100% of all funds raised or donated to Dainere’s Rainbow go immediately and directly to the research projects and programs set up in memory of and as a legacy to Dainere to support the extraordinary and devoted work of Associate Professor David Ziegler and his team at the Kids Cancer Centre Sydney Children’s Hospital.

Despite these times of profound difficulty, the Dainere’s Rainbow Team have been doing everything humanly possible to still support brain tumour families who have the extra burden of the pandemic. We have continued our mission to take action, give hope and create change for all Australian children diagnosed with brain tumours.

Our work during this time has been through elevating significant and crucial awareness on social media and website platforms, distribution of Community education, materials and information, reaching out to provide vital non-medical practical peer support to families,  continuation of collaboration on palliative care and bereavement projects and resources and we are thinking ahead in regards to the creation of innovative initiatives to further assist and support families.

We are looking to the future; one that we are aware will be challenging for any charity or community group and looking at new ways to raise vital and even more desperately needed funds for Australian world class research projects and programs that we are working closely on with Associate Professor David Ziegler to substantially improve outcomes, reduce treatment side effects and work towards the reality of a cure for every child diagnosed with a paediatric brain tumour.

Dainere’s words ‘You Have To Go Through A Storm To Get To A Rainbow’ are currently so relevant and poignant.  Just as Dainere did in her life, she never, ever gave up and worked with such selflessness, passion, determination and inspiration, it is our lifetime commitment to see her visions, goals and greatest wish in life become a reality and make a difference for others.  We will find a rainbow after this vicious storm.