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Nearly 10 years on from the first NRL Beanie for Brain Cancer Round, Mark Hughes is justifiably proud of the progress that has been made for those affected by the insidious disease.
More than $35 million has been raised following his foundation’s association with the special round, with key developments in research and care for those diagnosed a highlight for Hughes.
The former Newcastle and NSW representative centre, alongside wife Kirralee, formed the MHF after his high-grade brain cancer diagnosis in 2013 in order to raise funds and help find a cure for this disease.
The Beanie for Brain Cancer Round was created by Channel Nine’s executive producer of rugby league, Matt Callander, who lost his battle with brain cancer in 2017.
“It's been an unbelievable journey from 2013 being diagnosed and starting the foundation in 2014,” Hughes said.
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Mark Hughes launches Beanie for Brain Cancer Round
“I think our first NRL Beanie for Brain Cancer was 2017, that's where the real game-changer for our foundation came because it put us on a national scale and the support we got was just beyond our wildest dreams.
“That's allowed us to form the Mark Hughes Foundation Brain Cancer Centre in Newcastle, where we have 24 direct researchers doing research on brain cancer.
“We also have a total of 100 researchers connected to our charity now, all brain cancer, so it's completely changed the landscape of brain cancer.
“Without the support of the NRL, it just doesn't happen.
“Professor Mike Fay runs the Brain Cancer Centre in Newcastle [that opened in 2022] and one of our big focuses is to collaborate. It's teamwork, it's sharing ideas, and we're connecting with other great brain cancer organisations to try and fast track the answers.
“This is a big problem that we have and we're excited, we're hopeful and I don't think hope was a word used in brain cancer before we stepped in.”
As well as providing hope for the future, the money raised has also gone into directly assisting those diagnosed with brain cancer navigate their journey with the disease.
“We have brain cancer care nurses and what they do for patients and their families truly is inspirational and it really has made a huge difference to families,” Hughes said.
“We have our survivorship diaries that we give out to patients and they've been a really great thing that is also been awesome for the journey of our patients.
“We've got the biobank, which is collecting tumours.
“We've got some massive works on an MRI scanner coming up at the end of the year, which is going to make it one of probably the best in the country.
“We've had travel grants for our research.
“We've had reports of people saying it's a tough disease but I know I've got the Mark Hughes Foundation there for support and help and that's really important.
“We've connected so many people through this as well.
"The Big Three Trek, there's 70-odd people walking from Sydney to Newcastle, getting to McDonald Jones Stadium for Friday night's game between the Knights and Raiders.
“Some former legends walking and some good everyday people, people with stories.
“There's Scott Hingston who’s doing the run from Melbourne to Newcastle.
“It's 100 kilometres, astonishing effort, huge. He's getting donations, he's making a difference and it all just adds to what is an exciting weekend of footy."
While giant steps have been taken, there is still much more to achieve, more funding needed, which makes events like Beanie for Brain Cancer Round so essential.
“It's an exciting week, so much effort goes into this from the MHF team, but also, the NRL and all the support we get throughout this weekend truly is just amazing,” Hughes said.
“It's an amazing week, and very grateful of all the effort that goes into this.
“We need more big-hitting support, government funding, because we've seen some great improvements in other cancers, which is wonderful, and we want that for brain cancer, but at this point we haven't seen massive change or more expectancy.
“We want that for brain cancer.
“We're certainly looking for some great corporate partners that we haven't really managed to get over the years.
“So if there's any corporate companies or people out there that want to connect, we'd love to work together.”
Since his diagnosis, Hughes has been a tireless advocate for fellow brain cancer sufferers and while some days are harder than others, he remains as dedicated as ever to the cause.
“I get strength, I get energy from the support we get,” Hughes said.
“I'm lucky enough to still be here to fight this and fly the flag, where so many people I've met don't get the opportunities that I've got.
“I'm grateful for that and the amount of effort people put into helping us, the least I can do is show up and give everything I possibly can to try and make this the massively successful weekend that it is.”
Beanies are also available from all Lowes Australia stores and at participating Woolworths and IGA Australia stores or at www.markhughesfoundation.com.au.
