Diagnosed Just Six Months Apart, Siblings Sophie and Ben Battle Brain Cancer as Sophie Walks for a Cure at Walk4BrainCancer Centennial Park (2 November) 

On Sunday 2 November, Sydney local Sophie Sanderson, 29, will take part in Walk4BrainCancer Centennial Park to raise funds and awareness for Cure Brain Cancer Foundation, walking alongside friends in honour of her brother Ben, who is also battling brain cancer. 

Sophie and Ben’s story is as rare as it is heartbreaking. In 2022, Sophie was diagnosed with a Grade 3 anaplastic astrocytoma, just six months after Ben’s diagnosis of Grade 4 glioma. The siblings, ten years apart in age, have faced the unimaginable, fighting two life-threatening brain cancers within one family. 

“This year, I’m walking for my big brother,” says Sophie. “He inspires me more than words can express. He’s the funniest person I know, always lifting the mood, making people laugh, and brightening every room he walks into. His strength and spirit continue to push me forward every day.” 

Sophie’s journey to diagnosis was as extraordinary as her resilience. In 2021, while grieving the sudden loss of her mother, Sophie began experiencing manic episodes, later discovered to have been caused by the location of her tumour. After suffering a seizure in March 2022, scans revealed a lesion on her brain, and surgery soon confirmed her diagnosis. 

Following intensive rounds of radiation and chemotherapy, Sophie travelled to Germany for a pioneering personalised cancer vaccine, an immunotherapy treatment made using her own tumour and blood sample. Today, she continues to travel overseas every year for monitoring, while Ben has completed his treatment and is “managing well, considering our conditions.” 

Sophie has previously raised more than $6,900 through a birthday fundraiser and has already begun fundraising again this year with her team, Walk4Soph & Ben. You can support Sophie and her team here. 

“I walk because Cure Brain Cancer Foundation is doing the vital work that so few are: accelerating research, driving clinical trials, and pushing for real change in survival outcomes. Their dedication gives families like mine hope – hope for better treatments, longer lives, and ultimately, a cure,” Sophie shares. 

The Walk4BrainCancer Sydney event will see hundreds of participants come together at Centennial Park to support families like the Sandersons and raise vital funds for life-saving brain cancer research. 

CEO of Cure Brain Cancer Foundation, Andrew Giles, highlights the importance of the event: ​ ​ 

“Walk4BrainCancer Centennial Park brings together the community to raise essential funds for groundbreaking research. Sophie’s dedication highlights the impact individuals can have when they turn their personal challenges into action.” ​ ​ 

To register for Walk4BrainCancer Centennial Park or to support Sophie’s team, visit www.walk4braincancer.com.au. 

Walk4BrainCancer Centennial Park
​Sunday, 9 November 2025 – from 8:30am
​Church Grounds, Parkes Drive, Centennial Park NSW 2021
​https://walk4braincancer.com.au/walks/sydney-centennial-park/ ​ 

About Cure Brain Cancer Foundation ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 

Cure Brain Cancer Foundation is an Australian-based organisation that is working globally to rapidly improve brain cancer survival through funding innovative brain cancer research. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 

Cure Brain Cancer Foundation is the largest dedicated funder of brain cancer research in Australia. The Foundation has invested over $30 million into brain cancer research including clinical trials and pre-clinical research efforts across paediatric and adult brain cancers. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 

Cure Brain Cancer Foundation passionately forges global research collaborations, brings world-class clinical trials to Australia and gives people with brain cancer greater access to innovative new treatments. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 

The Foundation’s mission is to unite the community and rapidly increase brain cancer survival, improving the quality of life for people impacted by the disease. With a vision to ultimately find a cure for brain cancer. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 

Visit www.curebraincancer.org.au for more information. ​ 

Shannon Muscolino

PR Account Director, Ardent Communications

• shannon@ardentcom.com.au
• 0439 025 701

• www.ardentcom.com.au

Sarah Finn

PR Account Executive, Ardent Communications

• sarah@ardentcom.com.au
• 0431 141 945