Skip to content
CharitiesAidWelfare, Medical Health Aged Care

Bid for a Cause: Whisky Auction Supports Brain Cancer Fight

Lloyds Auctioneers and Valuers 2 mins read
  • Media:

After Jack was diagnosed with Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM), one of the most aggressive and deadly brain cancers, he was given just 12 months to live, and while he got 22 months, the end was never in doubt. Now Jack’s father, Ken, is raising money for brain cancer research through a limited-edition whisky brewed by Jack and his father which is going up for auction at Lloyds this month.

After multiple rounds of surgery, radiation, and toxic chemicals, Jack’s finance and law degree was no longer an option and Ken searched for a career path if he survived his treatment. Ken had been involved in the Tasmanian whisky industry since 2012 and decided to establish a whisky company that he and Jack could become a shareholder in.

When Jack passed, Ken sold their shares, but the new owner agreed that the first barrel would be donated to raising money for brain cancer in Jack’s name, which now after 6 years has come forward to auction. The whisky was tasted and endorsed by the three founders of the Australian whisky industry, Bill Lark, Casey Overeem and Patrick Maguire.

“Leukemia, breast, cervical, prostate and bowel cancers, amongst others, have experienced major breakthroughs in recent years and are no longer death sentences, however, brain cancer survival rates are low and have hardly changed for 30 years,” said Mr. Ken Fleming.

The money raised from the auction will be used to acquire access to the ‘Oxford Nanopore minION, which has been pioneered in Europe and allows brain tumours to be diagnosed quickly and accurately, allowing patients to commence their treatment as soon as possible.

Already in use in Norway and the Netherlands, the minION harnesses cutting edge artificial intelligence methods to help categorise brain tumours and deliver accurate on-site diagnoses. It is a different way of gene sequencing that reveals a more complete molecular picture of a brain tumour. The ‘Oxford Nanopore minION (the only known suitable product on the market) is smaller than a smartphone and uses ‘long read sequencing’ technology.

“The cost of acquiring and implementing this new technology is $500,000 and it is hoped that the auction as well as individual donations, will provide the funding,” continued Mr. Fleming.

“Lloyds Auctions are honoured to be able to bring this auction to the public and raise much needed funds for such a worthy cause,” said Mr. Lee Hames, Chief Operations Officer for Lloyds Auctions.

All funds from the auction will go directly to Brainstorm SLHD, a collaboration between leading Sydney Hospital Royal Prince Alfred (RPA) and the University of Sydney. It is dedicated to brain tumour research through the RPA Department of Neuropathology and the Molecular Neuropathology Research Program.

The whisky auction closes 20th September.

You can view the auction here.

For more information or to support the auction visit www.lloydsauctions.com.au/jack-fleming.


Contact details:

Taylah Gray

Public Relations

0488 288 178

pr@lloydsauctions.com.au

Media

Images
Jack's No. 1Jack's No. 1

Jack_No_1_2-min.jpg

Jack's No. 1
Download media

More from this category

  • Medical Health Aged Care
  • 05/04/2025
  • 06:01
Dementia Australia

Join us today for the Victor Harbor Memory Walk & Jog!

What: Dementia Australia’s Victor Harbor Memory Walk & Jog    When: Saturday, 5 April from 9:00am   Who: More than 90 locals participating on the day. People who have been impacted by dementia, their family, friends and carers.   Where: Soldiers Memorial Gardens, Victor Harbor   Dementia Australia spokespeople and local residents are available for interview. Photos and video of previous Memory Walk & Jog events for publication are available for use. For more information visit: www.memorywalk.com.au Dementia Australia is the source of trusted information, education and services for the estimated more than 433,300 Australians living with dementia, and the more than…

  • Contains:
  • CharitiesAidWelfare, Youth
  • 05/04/2025
  • 06:00
The KIDS Foundation

International Model Georgina Burke Saddles Up for Tour d’Horse 2025

Top international model, body diversity advocate and lifelong equestrian, Georgina Burke is proud to support the KIDS Foundation as its Global Ambassador for Tourd’Horse 2025, the major fundraising event for the charity. The New York-based model grew up on the outskirts of Brisbane, where horses were part of her family's everyday life. Georgina even worked at a saddlery store to fund the plane ticket for her first international modelling trip to London when she was 19. Since that first trip, Georgina's career has seen her front the campaigns of a myriad of global brands, including Ralph Lauren and Seafolly. And…

  • Medical Health Aged Care, Science
  • 04/04/2025
  • 13:21
La Trobe University

Scientists reveal new toxin that damages the gut

Scientists at La Trobe University have discovered how a diarrhoea-causing strain of bacteria uses “molecular scissors” to cut open and destroy gut cells, leading to severe illness and sometimes death. Published inGut Microbes, the research reveals for the first time the three-dimensional structure of a toxin secreted by enteropathogenicE. coli(EPEC) bacteria, and shows how the bacteria use the toxin to invade and destroy the epithelial cells that line the gut. The toxin, which is an enzyme called EspC, destroys the cells by cutting up their internal protein structure. La Trobe University scientist Professor Begoña Heras, who co-led the research, said…

Media Outreach made fast, easy, simple.

Feature your press release on Medianet's News Hub every time you distribute with Medianet. Pay per release or save with a subscription.