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.
