At that time, brain cancer research and treatment were relatively underfunded in Australia in comparison to other cancers, despite the fact that it kills more children in Australia than any other cancer and approximately one person is diagnosed with the disease every five hours.

The lack of funding meant very little research into treatments or cures for brain cancer had occurred, and so mortality rates had not significantly improved in 30 years.

Since then, MHF have sold 1 million beanies, raised tens of millions of dollars for brain cancer research and funded Brain Cancer Care nurses in regional Australia

Every year our employees get behind the Beanies for Brain Cancer campaign buying beanies and other merchandise for themselves, their friends and family members, and Port Waratah gets right behind the campaign too. Every dollar raised through the annual campaign is dollar matched by the Port Waratah Community Investment and Partnership Programme, doubling the organisation’s impact to help this worthy cause.

Since 2015, the Port Waratah team have donated more than $120,000.

Mark Hughes said, 

“The Mark Hughes Foundation is forever grateful for the support that Port Waratah has shown us over the years. It’s amazing to see a local organisation giving back to a local charity and helping members of the community. Port Waratah, just like the Mark Hughes Foundation, are changing lives and doing our bit to make this world a better place.”