Partnerships Health Fundraising research Funding nonprofit Cancer Social Affairs Latest News

Brain Cancer Charity CEO to trek the South Pole to raise funds for cancer research

Menchie Khairuddin February 16, 2023

2 min read

There is nothing too daunting for CEO of the Year 2022 Lance Kawaguchi.

The Cure Brain Cancer Foundation CEO pledges to complete an expedition to the South pole to raise awareness and funds for cancer research.

The foundation has committed $11.2 million to cancer research and initiative in the past 2 years and has now partnered with charities globally including the Glioblastoma Research Organization, the Asian Fund for Cancer Research and the National Foundation for Cancer Research to create a bigger impact.

This is the first time a trek will be made to the South Pole in the name of cancer research.

In a previous conversation with Third Sector, Kawaguchi expressed his affinity for collaboration and stated that he is willing to be the first mover because foundations and charities can have a greater impact when they work together.

“There’s never been a cancer charity who’s planted the flag in the South Pole,” said Lance.

The visionary CEO is determined to take on any challenge if it means that it is one more step closer to curing Cancer.

“In Australia, a classroom of children dies every year of brain cancer. But the lack of funding for brain cancer research keeps researchers away from labs and discoveries and leaves patients devoid of new treatments,” said Lance.

Lance calls on other charities, foundations, sponsors and donors to come together and raise as much funding as they can for cancer research.

Committing to a trek in sub-freezing temperatures is not something Lance knew he was going to do when he joined Cure Brain Cancer in 2021. However, when he lost his mother to cancer he made the change from global finance to the not-for-profit sector.

“For a selected few a trek to the South Pole is a test of their endurance, for others a milestone of their physical and mental accomplishment, but what if it were more than that?” said Kawaguchi.

In his acceptance speech for CEO of the Year at the Third Sector Awards 2022, Lance shared how much his mother’s passing had affected him and how she had once said to him “Lance, be the change that you want to see in your life.”

Lance chose to focus his advocacy work on brain cancer after learning that it is the most underfunded type of cancer and one with a very low recovery rate.

“I want my trek to the South Pole to put brain cancer research on the global map, and create a force multiplier effect that will echo around the world. This is a fantastic opportunity for an Australian charity to rally others across the world and lead them to the pinnacle of Earth to raise awareness for people impacted by cancer.”

Menchie Khairuddin

Website | + posts

Menchie Khairuddin is a writer Deputy Content Manager at Akolade and content producer for Third Sector News. She is passionate about social affairs specifically in mixed, multicultural heritage and not-for-profit organisations.