A father's passion to find a cure for childhood cancer will take a huge step closer to reality this week with some of the world's brightest medical minds descending on Perth.
For the first time, the world's premier childhood brain tumour researchers and scientists have come together in Australia to develop a plan to tackle an invasive disease that aggressively targets young children.
The Global Symposium on Childhood Brain Tumours is a two-year dream of Telethon Adventurers Founder and Chairman Rick Parish and his wife Emily who tragically lost their son Elliot to the disease in 2011. This meeting of world experts will coincide with the two year anniversary of Elliot's passing.
The Telethon Adventurers are waging an ongoing war against childhood cancer and this global gathering is a key step in that crusade. It's hoped that by bringing together the leading minds in medulloblastoma research new treatment opportunities can be identified.
"This gathering of experts is unprecedented. It's a rare opportunity to have the best in the business together in one room working together to find the best outcome for our kids," said The Telethon Adventurers Founder Rick Parish.
"My hope is that one day we will find a cure for childhood brain tumours so no family has to endure the heartache that ours has."
The Global Symposium on Childhood Brain Tumours is being funded by the Telethon Adventurers who work year-round raising money through a range of adventures and events held in Australia and around the world.
"It makes me incredibly proud to know that the Telethon Adventurers are playing such a key role in making this symposium happen" said Rick.
"Elliott would also be proud to know that we have kept our promise to him to never give up and to always continue our fight against childhood cancer."
The Global Symposium will be co-convened by The Kids for Child Health Research's Dr Nick Gottardo and visiting specialist Dr Amar Gajjar, Chair of the Brain Tumour Committee of the Children's Oncology Group (COG), the largest cooperative organisation in the world that treats children with cancer.
The event is being held over three days in Perth and Western Australia's south-west starting Monday, 11 February 2013.
Read more about Dr Nick Gottardo and his work in childhood brain tumours at The Kids.