So Brave Is NOT Your Regular Breast Cancer Charity
We know research changes lives. We know it changes the future for all women.
So we’ve gone a step beyond being a fundraiser for breast cancer research.
We collaborate with research partners and fund our own education, advocacy, and community programs to change the futures of young women in Australia.
Your generous donations have so far funded:
💛 over $115,000 in research and support programs, education and awareness for the next generation,
💛 Four years of our Signature So Brave Model Ambassador Program,
💛 AN online support group – So Brave CONNECT,
💛 and BREAST AWARE education for
High School and University students.
How we help
While we’re at the grassroots level helping young women, we’re also working to make changes long-term.
These are some things we’ve got going on:
- Lobbying for policy changes and improved resources for those seeking fertility treatments
- Providing information about what to expect post-treatment in terms of potential cognitive impacts, and a list of resources that can assist in accessing help
- Offering couple-based interventions to alleviate the mental, sexual, and physical impacts of breast cancer to both partners, and improve communication
- Providing resources on talking to children about breast cancer and what it means for the family and their lifestyle
- Presentations and workshops targeted to school-age children so they are empowered when it comes to managing their health and knowing their bodies, as well as educating them on breast cancer in young women
- Bridging the gap between urban and rural facilities so that regional patients aren’t at a disadvantage
- Conducting further studies into the social and financial impacts of breast cancer on young women so that we can disseminate that information and use it to improve our reach and effectiveness
And so much more! We know it can be a complete surprise when it comes to the ways that breast cancer can impact a young woman and her community, but by providing education and support from the very beginning we can empower you to navigate your ‘new normal’ should you be diagnosed.
The majority of women currently being diagnosed are between 50 and 70 years old, however nearly 1,000 young women are estimated to be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2017.
That is more than 2 women each day.
Women diagnosed under 40 find additional difficulties in both diagnosing and treating the disease, given their pre-menopausal status, fertility, childbearing, and family situations. Symptoms of breast cancer in young women – such as a lump or breast pain – can often be ignored or dismissed.
That’s how we know that raising awareness and empowerment in young women is so incredibly important.
Routine mammographic screening is offered to women between 50 and 70 years old. Because of this community story, many young women believe breast cancer isn’t something they need to be concerned about, or that they’re overthinking any symptoms they may notice.
And while young women with a reported family history are offered screening options, they are often cost-prohibitive and research has shown family history only explains a maximum of 15% of breast cancers in young women.
So Brave is a fundraising charity pioneering empowered, educated futures for young Australian women.
We invest funds raised through our generous donors into advancing best practice scientific and medical research, raising community awareness, and providing support and connection for the brave young women who have been through the shock of diagnosis.
How So Brave is funding cancer research
Between 2016 – 2020
So Brave has raised over $115,000 for breast cancer research, education, and advocacy.
Centre for Personalised NanoMedicine, Australian Institute of BioEngineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN)
In 2016, So Brave donated $35,000 for cancer research to the Centre for Personalised NanoMedicine, AIBN. By bringing together cutting-edge research from the fields of Nanotechnology, Molecular Biology, Clinical Research and Health Economics, the vision of the Personalised Nanomedicine Centre is to become a world leader in this field as well as a catalyst for change in the local and international medical system.
It is well documented that patient survival rates dramatically improve, and the cost of treatment dramatically decreases, when disease is detected and treated at an early stage (e.g., survival for cancers detected early is as high as 90-98%, compared to 10-20% if the cancer is detected at a late stage). In nearly all forms of cancer, early diagnosis can lead to a cure at a fraction of the cost of currently ineffective treatments for late stage disease. The Centre focuses primarily on nanobiotechnology research, development and commercialisation.
National Breast Cancer Foundation
So Brave proudly supports the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) and breast cancer research. In 2017, So Brave donated $35000 to the NBCF to fund their life-changing breast cancer research.
The NBCF is the only national body that funds life-changing breast cancer research with money raised entirely by the Australian public. Breast cancer is the most common life-threatening cancer facing Australian women, with 8 women dying from the disease each day.
Research is the only way to improve how breast cancer is diagnosed, managed and treated. By funding only world-class research, NBCF is working towards a goal of zero deaths from breast cancer by 2030.
NBCF research has helped develop better therapies, greater understanding of possible ways to stop the spread of breast cancer to other areas, and improved quality of life for patients and their families. Since they were established in 1994, they have awarded more than $127 million to around 430 Australian-based research projects to improve the health and well-being of those affected by breast cancer. With no Government funding, this money has been raised entirely by the Australian public.
NBCF awarded $35,000 to the McGrath Foundation in 2018, following our year of regional Australian women, as well as a legacy donation to Breast Cancer Network Australia in memory of Nyrie Contor, and a legacy donation to the Peter MacCallum Cancer Research Centre in memory Ria Caddell.
When So Brave raises funds, here’s where they go:
Research investment program directly funding $115,000 in research
Awareness programs including community events and education programs
Support and advocacy programs for young breast cancer survivors
Research support via university internships, programs, and collaborations,
Become part of the way we’re changing lives.
Breast Cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in young Australian women.
The majority of women currently being diagnosed are between 50 and 70 years old, however nearly 1,000 young women are estimated to be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2017 – that is more than 2 women each day.
Women diagnosed under 40 find additional difficulties in both diagnosing and treating the disease, given their pre-menopausal status, fertility, childbearing, and family situations. Symptoms of breast cancer in young women – such as a lump or breast pain – can often be ignored or dismissed.
That’s how we know that raising awareness and empowerment in young women is so incredibly important.
Routine mammographic screening is offered to women between 50 and 70 years old. Because of this community story, many young women believe breast cancer isn’t something they need to be concerned about, or that they’re overthinking any symptoms they may notice.
And while young women with a reported family history are offered screening options, they are often cost-prohibitive and research has shown
family history only explains a maximum of 15% of breast cancers in young women.
So Brave is a fundraising charity pioneering empowered, educated futures for young Australian women.
We invest funds raised through our generous donors into advancing best practice scientific and medical research, raising community awareness, and providing support and connection for the brave young women who have been through the shock of diagnosis.
How So Brave is funding cancer research
Between 2016 – 2020 So Brave has raised over $115,000 for breast cancer research, education, and advocacy.
Centre for Personalised NanoMedicine, Australian Institute of BioEngineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN)
In 2016, So Brave donated $35,000 for cancer research to the Centre for Personalised NanoMedicine, AIBN. By bringing together cutting-edge research from the fields of Nanotechnology, Molecular Biology, Clinical Research and Health Economics, the vision of the Personalised Nanomedicine Centre is to become a world leader in this field as well as a catalyst for change in the local and international medical system.
It is well documented that patient survival rates dramatically improve, and the cost of treatment dramatically decreases, when disease is detected and treated at an early stage (e.g., survival for cancers detected early is as high as 90-98%, compared to 10-20% if the cancer is detected at a late stage). In nearly all forms of cancer, early diagnosis can lead to a cure at a fraction of the cost of currently ineffective treatments for late stage disease. The Centre focuses primarily on nanobiotechnology research, development and commercialisation.
National Breast Cancer Foundation
So Brave proudly supports the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) and breast cancer research. In 2017, So Brave donated $35000 to the NBCF to fund their life-changing breast cancer research.
The NBCF is the only national body that funds life-changing breast cancer research with money raised entirely by the Australian public. Breast cancer is the most common life-threatening cancer facing Australian women, with 8 women dying from the disease each day.
Research is the only way to improve how breast cancer is diagnosed, managed and treated. By funding only world-class research, NBCF is working towards a goal of zero deaths from breast cancer by 2030.
NBCF research has helped develop better therapies, greater understanding of possible ways to stop the spread of breast cancer to other areas, and improved quality of life for patients and their families. Since they were established in 1994, they have awarded more than $127 million to around 430 Australian-based research projects to improve the health and well-being of those affected by breast cancer. With no Government funding, this money has been raised entirely by the Australian public.
NBCF awarded $35,000 to the McGrath Foundation in 2018, following our year of regional Australian women, as well as a legacy donation to Breast Cancer Network Australia in memory of Nyrie Contor, and a legacy donation to the Peter MacCallum Cancer Research Centre in memory Ria Caddell.
To find out more about the NBCF, click here. <link>