Coles’ supermarket at Cowes is among the top three fundraising stores in Victoria, raising funds to help change the odds for kids with brain cancer.

In just three weeks, Coles Cowes raised $8812 for the Robert Connor Dawes (RCD) Foundation to support paediatric brain cancer through research and better patient care.

Supporting the RCD Foundation for the eighth consecutive year, Coles has raised $419,431 this year through the sale of ‘Sock it to Brain Cancer’ socks and $2 donation cards. Ten cents from each sale of selected Coles Own Brand bakery cookie packs also contributed to the fundraising effort.

The RCD Foundation founder Liz Dawes OAM, who established the charity in memory of her son who was diagnosed with brain cancer at the age of 17, said she was immensely thankful to have the support of Coles customers and team members.

“Paediatric brain cancer is the number one disease killer of young people. Current clinical treatments aid 50 per cent of children but leave 90 per cent with lifelong physical and mental impairments,” she said.

“We are so grateful to Coles team members and customers for their support and look forward to seeing the impact that this year’s campaign result will have on the harrowing statistics that come with paediatric brain cancer.”

The RCD Foundation invests in high-impact projects such as the AIM BRAIN PROject, an Australian first bringing molecular diagnostic testing to children diagnosed in Australia.

Coles Victoria State General Manager Daniel Ellul said he is thrilled that Coles’ fundraising campaign for the RCD Foundation returned to Victorian stores this year.

“Coles is proud to support the RCD Foundation and thanks to the generosity of our customers, we reached a new record in our fundraising and exceeded our expectations. We’re delighted to think these funds will support cutting-edge research projects and help to offer new hope to families and children with brain cancer,” he said.