Cancer is always unfair but sometimes its timing is particularly cruel.
Imagine for a moment that you’re a 22-year-young man on the brink of independent adult life. You’ve just completed university, landed a graduate position with a good company, moved into an apartment with your girlfriend, and you’re saving money for a dream overseas trip. And then you find a strange lump on your shoulder blade …
In May this year Jacques Mathot was diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma, an aggressive cancer of bone and connecting tissue which has a notoriously poor survival rate.
Like many Ewings sufferers, Jac’s painful shoulder was initially misdiagnosed as a sports injury. By the time scans had been done, the tumour in his scapula was ten centimetres across and the cancer had spread to his pelvis and spine.
Jac is now undergoing high-dose chemotherapy and is about to start radiotherapy, a punishing treatment regime which he is facing with remarkable good humour.
But while the tumours are shrinking, the oncologists know from bitter experience that the cancer is highly likely to develop resistance to the treatment and return with a vengeance. Jac’s odds of being cured by conventional treatment, they say, are only one-in-four.
For decades there have been no significant advances in the treatment of Ewing Sarcoma. Now, almost miraculously, Jac has another treatment option. Molecular profiling of his cancer has found that it contains a mutation often seen in breast cancer. That mutation is the target for a revolutionary new breast cancer drug called Enhertu, which is proving highly effective.
Jac’s doctors think this is really worth trying, but in his rare case Enhertu is not covered by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, and the drug company has declined to provide compassionate access. His family must therefore pay the huge cost in full – and that will be at least $120,000.
If the money can be raised, Jac could become a textbook example of an exciting new approach to cancer treatment, which involves matching an existing drug to the individual molecular profile of the patient’s cancer. It’s about giving the right drug to the right patient, at the right time – a targeted approach that has proven to be six times more effective than one-size-fits-many chemotherapies.
Please help Jac resume the life he dreams of and has worked so hard for. In doing so, you’ll also be spotlighting a potential way forward for other rare cancer sufferers who find that conventional cancer treatments are not enough and who might really benefit from new and emerging drug therapies.
Thank you to my Sponsors
$20k
Rca Transfer
$3.25k
Rca Transfer
$3k
Rca Transfer
Good luck Jac - we are thinking of you and with you on your journey there and back again :)
$2k
Jiying Fan
Da bai zhu da bai zhu da bai zhu have no mumu
$1.5k
Chris Low
Thinking of you guys. Hope you can get the treatment you need to get through this.
$1,000
Anne Casazza
We wish you the speediest of recovery with the new drug! ❤️ Mark & Anne C
$1,000
Mechintellect Pty Ltd
Wishing you all the best in your treatment. Hope all goes well.
$1,000
The Sokolowski Family
We wish you all the very best Jacques.
$1,000
Grant Belcher
You've got this Jac but let's make sure you get all the help possible
$750
Eddy Meyer
$500
Gabriella Barschdorff
Stay strong!
$500
Merilyn Speiser
Hi Jac I am a close friend of Tony Crane - wishing you all the very best x
$500
Kate Douchkov
$500
Sharyn Clarke
I hope this helps you Jacques - the medical system has to change
$500
Merilyn Speiser
Hi Jacques I am a good friend of Tony Crane and I hope this small donation goes some way towards reaching your goal. All the best Mez Speiser
$500
Merilyn Speiser
Hi Jacques hope this small donation goes some way towards helping you through, best wishes Merilyn Speiser
$500
Bob Seary
$500
The Hearing Hub
$500
Leslee Ellis
Hi Jaques, good luck from the Ellis-Gannell family
$500
Geoffrey Gatfield
$500
Rob Oerlemans
Honouring Noah
$500
Michael Oerlemans
$400
Ann Caddey
A painting of mine called Hope has been sold to make this donation. The buyer was Gerder Maeder. With live.
$250
Martin Rafter
Give it hell Jacques.
$250
Sophia Hill
$250
Deirdre Brennan
$250
Richard And Kate Vines
With our very best wishes. Stay strong.
$200
Jillian D’ercole
Sending all my love to the three of you, and particularly your gorgeous boy, Jac.
$200
Bonnie Rae
$200
Paul Bodell
T&P
$200
Mary-jane & Maru Jones
$200
Kerrie Whitla
$200
Brianne Thiele
$200
Najla Nasr
$200
Don Nutbeam
$200
Pearl Casazza
Thinking of you and wishing you all the best for your recovery
$200
Rca Transfer
Hi Mark So sad to hear this news. Max actually told me about it last week. Your a legend buddy 🤛 Cheers Kris
$200
Caecilia Potter
Wishing you a swift recovery
$200
Benjamin Nguyen
From Ben and Roy Need to see you get better bro
$200
Alice Luey
Hey Mark old buddy, sending my love and prayers to Jac and the family xx
$200
Vicki Snelson
Hoping you make a full recovery
$200
Janice Tong
Mathot - it’s been a long time. Sending you and Jac all my love xx
$200
Brooke Spalding
$200
Rca Transfer
$200
William Vuong
You've got this.
$200
Rca Transfer
$200
Rca Transfer
God bless you and grant you healing.
$200
Tiyan Baker
$200
Helen Bouropoulos
All the very best to you Jac!! We’re all thinking of you. Hugh, Helen, Philip & Tim xxx
$200
Philippa Ditton-phare
All our best wishes with the treatment. You got this!
$150
Suze Van Der Ploeg
On behalf of Suze van der Ploeg
$150
Roy And Jane Van Der Ploeg
Lots of love, dear Jac, from your family in The Netherlands
$150
Kate Xxxx
Fanmily will do anything to keep each other safe and healthy. My thoughts and love are with you in this battle.
$150
Angela Todd
$150
Andria Ratchford
$150
Rob Meyer
$150
Erik Van Der Ploeg
Wishing you all the luck in the world, from your relatives in the Netherlands.
$120
Patrick Lyons
$100
Lauren Kelly
X
$100
Matt Mcauley
Wishing you all the best Jacques.
$100
Maureen Murphy
Good luck Jacques with the treatment.
$100
Stephen Fitzgerald
$100
Dominic Tonna
$100
Leanne Larsson
Sending Healing wishes 💕
$100
Paul Bradshaw
$100
Nicholas Green
$100
Nicholas Green
$100
Lynn Wiezel
Sending you all lots of love.
$100
Helmut Uhlmann
Wishing you all the strength in the world in facing this unfathomable challenge at such a young age
$100
Leanne Hassett
Mark, Keeping you, Jac & your family in my thoughts.
$100
Carmen Ko
$100
Pauline Dunne
$100
Tash K
Sending you all much love xxx
$100
Steve Fontanot
$100
Andrew Milat
$100
Claire Mueller
$100
Frances Mocnik
$100
Jemma Anderson Hirst
Sending big love on this journey x
$100
Rca Transfer
All the best Jacq! Get well soon.
$100
Jacob Manfred
$100
Laura Nagy
$100
Rca Transfer
$100
Rama Kandarpa
I wish a speedy recovery
$100
Dean Whitehouse
$100
Sebastian Sokolowski
You’ve got this man 💪 wishing you a fast recovery, and getting back to normal as soon as possible!
$100
Katie Ward
Thinking of you Jacques and hope you get all the support you need.
$100
Adrian Chow
Stay strong brother, fight hard and stay resilient. hoping to hear good news from you soon!
$100
Mark Holmes
Wishing you all the best Jacques!
$100
Nat Connor
xox
$100
Ben Swindale
$100
Kate Lindwall
$100
Shannon Rooney
Here’s to beating this x
$100
Ruth Mccain
$100
Rca Transfer
$100
Alexandre Songeon Senzaki
Keep at it Jac!!
$100
Ben Scott
$100
Sian Sinclair
$100
Matt R
$100
Carlene Lawler
Thoughts are with you all x
$100
Monika Kwong
$100
Rca Transfer
$100
Robert Bes
$100
Rca Transfer
Goodluck Jacques!
$100
Rca Transfer
From Jennifer in Newcastle
$100
Rca Transfer
Wishing you all the best and hope you can raise enough funds for your treatment and that it is successful
$100
Leanne Broadbent
$100
Ron And Viv Swaab
$100
Michael Parris
$80
Rca Transfer
$50
Cain Hillier
$50
Rca Transfer
$50
Ben Edwards
$50
Alex Morigaki
$50
Giselle Thiele
$50
Lauren Swaab
$50
Jane Fletcher
Sending hope and love from Newcastle.(Linda's Friend)
$50
Rca Transfer
Wishing you grace and perseverance Jacques
$50
Michaela Shea
$50
Chloe Wyatt
Fingers and toes are crossed for you with this treatment.
$50
Grant Parnell
$50
Rca Transfer
Best wishes
$50
Rca Transfer
$50
Rca Transfer
$50
Rca Transfer
$50
Rca Transfer
$50
Nicole Sutcliffe
$50
Sue Mcmurtrie
Hoping that this is a breakthrough for sarcoma and gives you the future you deserve. In memory of my 23 year old daughter x
$50
Michelle Risson
$50
Grace Welcome
$50
Abby Landy
$50
Lucy Jackson
$50
Ahleyah Deyaolu
$50
Rca Transfer
$50
Andrew Wrigley
You can do it mate. We'll all be thinking of you through your journey.
$50
Vineti Anand
$50
Melani Gatmaitan
$50
Alexandria Irvine
$50
Daisy Revill
$50
Rca Transfer
$50
Rca Transfer
$50
Declan Crane
Hope this helps mate don’t worry more is on the way
$50
Nichola Baker
$50
Amy Debono
You can beat this. And you will. All the best.
$50
Edward Mckinney
$50
Andrew Mara
$50
Ruth Hackett
$50
Rca Transfer
$50
Camelia Tobia
$50
Declan Crane
More still on the way brother 🤙🏼
$50
Jordan Thomas
Keep going mate!
$50
Rca Transfer
$50
Marta Newport
You've got this
$50
Jad Mouait
$50
Emily Crossey
Thinking of you! You've got this.
$50
Manjoot Dhillon
$50
Neha Mittal
$50
Aayesha Khan
$50
Conor Farley
$50
Alana Shirley
$50
Steve Rowland
Wishing you every success.
$50
Tatjana Van Lint
Wishing you the very best in this fight Jacques. Xx
$50
Felicity Biggins
$50
Juliana Gerlach
$50
Vicky Fei Dong
Wishing you all the best Jacques!
$50
Rca Transfer
$50
Leisl Wratten
$50
Rca Transfer
$50
Peter West Peter West
Donation from Peter West (brother of Luke)
$50
Merilyn Heuschkel
$50
Aidan Bega
$50
Sandra Morrow
Sending you and your family lots of positive thoughts!
$50
Rca Transfer
Sending you lots of strength and support x
$50
Rca Transfer
You’ve got this Jacques, keep fighting the good fight. xx
$50
Natalie Taylor
$50
Karelle Leroy
$50
Stefanie Bell
$50
Nicolle Dargue
$40
Peter Adams
$35
Sarah Mcgrory
$35
Ray Gazi
We are with you Jacques❤️
$30
Imi Hillier
$30
Julia Morrison
$30
Rca Transfer
Hope you kick this C butt!!
$30
Rca Transfer
222 - just trust
$30
Pip Noble
$30
Kay Bennetts
$25
Alex Morigaki
$25
Isobella Morrison
$25
Peter Trevaskis
$25
Jacqueline Wells
$25
Jacqueline Wells
$25
Elizabeth Mudd
$25
Dallas Mcloon
$25
Rca Transfer
Hope this helps
$25
Rca Transfer
$25
Vicki Stewart
$20
Rca Transfer
$20
Connor Kahui-chee
It’s all I can give rn but more on the way
$20
Gisella Collins
Wishing you all the best with your treatment, lots of love.
$20
Isabella Straviote
$20
Merilyn Dawson
$15
Emma Rose
Sending all the love and healing thoughts
$15
Cyrus Potter
$10
Rca Transfer
$10
Melissa Heffernan
$10
Melissa Heffernan
Keep fighting 🧡
$10
Matt Graham
$10
Rca Transfer
You got this buddy, kick it’s backside
$10
Rca Transfer
$10
Rca Transfer
$10
Katie Hale
$5
