Supporting our Community
Over the course of the school year, the College catches wind of people in our community doing exceptional things. One of these such moments has recently been shared with the College from the Garett family (Mia & Daeja) involving their father, Shannon.
Shannon is embarking on a massive fundraiser for a charity called RUNDIPG for children’s brain cancer, and due to Shannon himself having the same cancer as the kids, just later in life in his spine.
Please see an exert from Shannon's fundraising profile:
Further genetic testing revealed that I had been misdiagnosed—what I had all along was a Diffuse Midline Glioma (DMG), H3K27M altered. This rare and aggressive tumour is considered low-grade, but it is driven by a mutant gene that causes rapid, unpredictable growth, and there is still much that experts don’t understand about why or how this occurs. Tragically, DMG is most often found in children’s brains, with a survival rate of less than 10%, and life expectancy measured in months.
In late 2023, I sought out every possible option to fight this tumour, traveling to Paris and the United States to participate in a clinical trial for a drug called ONC201, which wasn’t available in Australia. After spending approximately $30,000 on the treatment, the drug unfortunately proved ineffective, and the tumour grew aggressively once again, more than doubling in size. In August 2024, I had a fourth lumbar laminectomy, and I am currently undergoing further radiation therapy and chemotherapy to try and delay the tumour's continued growth.
The surgeries have caused significant nerve damage to my body from the waist down. While I can still walk with some impairment, the medical experts believe that eventually, I will lose my mobility entirely.
Despite the challenges, I consider myself incredibly fortunate. I am one of the very few cases of DMG in the spine. However, the odds are still stacked against me, as there is no current cure, and the prognosis for the disease is grim. But I refuse to give up—and I’m committed to raising awareness and funds for DIPG/DMG research to help others facing this rare and aggressive cancer.
The Tour du Mont Blanc Challenge
Though my condition is grave, I’m determined to take on an ambitious challenge to raise awareness and funds: I plan to hike the Tour du Mont Blanc, a 172km trek through the Swiss, French, and Italian Alps. This hike, scheduled for July 2025, will test my physical and mental strength, but it’s one I’m ready for. I’ll be joined on this journey by my oldest son Malik, and my lifelong best friends Carl and Anita, who will support me every step of the way.
I’ve set an ambitious goal to raise $100,000 through this fundraiser, with 100% of the proceeds going directly to RUN DIPG. These funds will support cutting-edge research into DIPG/DMG, helping to advance treatment options, improve outcomes, and one day, hopefully, find a cure.
Further information on Shannon's fundraiser can be found here, including a donation portal: https://rundipg-org.grassrootz.com/shannon-garrett-raising-awareness-funding-for-dipg-dmg-research
You can also follow the journey through Shane's Facebook page here
On behalf of the Heathmont College community, we wish Shane all of the best with his journey and fundraising efforts for such an important cause.