Telethon Kids Cancer Centre Researcher Joins Cycle for a Cure
Cycle for a Cure is an exhilarating four-day event, set to kick off from 19-22 October. Nestled in the scenic Fairbridge Village, cyclists will embark on a unique journey each day, all while raising funds and awareness for childhood cancer research. We are thrilled to introduce you to an incredible ambassador of the revamped event: Darcy Pirotta, an Honours Student at Telethon Kids Cancer Centre.
Once a competitive cyclist who competed all around the world, Darcy decided to pivot his life’s direction towards studying and research when COVID hit. Today, he is an Honours Student at the Telethon Kids Cancer Centre, where he contributes to the ground-breaking research that aims to find more effective treatments for children with cancer.
Darcy is currently assisting the research into new preclinical models for neuroblastoma, a complex childhood cancer of the nerve cells and the most common solid tumour in children outside of the brain.
While his cycling career might feel like a distant memory for Darcy, his passion for research and his commitment to making a difference for children with cancer are very much alive.
“With childhood cancer, there’s a real gap between what we know and the treatments available and it’s great to have the [Telethon Kids] Cancer Centre here with some of the world’s leading researchers,” expressed Darcy. “There’s a lot of great work that is happening here… and the future looks really promising.”
In recent years immunotherapy has revolutionised the treatment of cancer by supercharging the immune system to attack cancer. Despite the success of these drugs in adults, this approach has had limited success against childhood cancers. “With childhood cancer, it’s still a little bit behind,” Darcy explained. “There’s an unmet need to find new treatments for kids because childhood cancers and adult cancers are very different. And we’re working on it.”
As a researcher, Darcy understands the significance of fundraising events like Cycle for a Cure. “All the research that’s happening here at Telethon Kids Institute is funded by grants, so it’s really important to have these events and fundraise so that we can make this research happen and find cures and help these kids,” Darcy said.
As we gear up for Cycle for a Cure next month, we invite you to join Darcy and the other incredible riders who are joining us on the mission to Beat Child Cancer On Ya Bum. Your support, whether through participation or donation, can make a real difference in the lives of children with cancer.
Together, we can pedal towards a cancer-free future for children.