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