General News
8 December, 2023
Local face for a national campaign
A LOCAL face will appear on televisions around the country as part of Brain Cancer Centre's newest awareness advertisement campaign.
Amy Stephenson has shared her story through The Public Diagnosis campaign, which shares stories of patients and families impacted by a brain cancer diagnosis.
Ms Stephenson said her son Lachie’s story was chosen for the ads in the hopes of having a strong impact.
“Lach was a fit, healthy and active 19-year-old who all of a sudden was facing the fight of his life. His only symptoms were vertigo and nausea,” she said.
“Lach continued to use humour during his illness which is the basis of the Public Diagnosis campaign – Geez Mum, we could swim out of here in your tears.
“He said this to me on the day that we were told to go home and make memories.
“A medical diagnosis traditionally takes place behind closed doors and not many people can truly understand the gravity of what you feel when given this type of news.”
The Brain Cancer Centre said that the gravity of the news was what the organisation was trying to portray through the new ad campaign.
Founded by Carrie’s Beanies 4 Brain Cancer, the organisation aims to improve outcomes for those diagnosed with brain cancer.
Ms Stephenson said she was more than happy to make Lachie’s story public.
“This still is very personal and was the day that our life fell apart and everything changed forever,” she said.
“As a medical diagnosis is something that very few people get to experience, we hope that Lach’s story truly portrays how things can change in an instant.
“Brain cancer does not discriminate, it is such a barbaric disease and one that has had very few advances in 60 years.
“The more brain cancer is seen, the sooner we can make it disappear.”
Data collected by the Brain Cancer Centre shows survival rates have not changed in 30 years, with 80 per cent of diagnosed patients dying within five years of diagnosis.
One Australian is diagnosed with brain cancer every five hours, and it kills more people under 40 than any other cancer.
Ms Stephenson said the experience of being filmed for the campaign was not an easy one to speak about.
“We worked on the film with an amazing group of people in Sydney in January of this year,” she said.
“Each scene was created and filmed based on a single photo during a particular stage in Lach’s life.
“As each scene was brought to fruition during filming, it was like an out of body experience for me, like watching my life play out in front of my very own eyes. As emotional as it was working on this campaign, it has also been very rewarding.
“To know that Lach’s story is continuing to grow and that he is still having an impact is such a content feeling.”
Ms Stephenson said The Public Diagnosis campaign was not the only brain cancer campaign she has participated in.
“On Sunday, November 19 my daughter Riley, sister Hanna and myself tackled Mount Wellington in Hobart along with a team of approximately 300, all walking/running for their own reason on behalf of Carrie’s Beanies 4 Brain Cancer,” she said.
“The Point 2 Pinnacle is the world’s toughest half marathon, and they call it that for a reason; 21.1km straight uphill, all the way and through the clouds.
“Our small team was called the 3 Rangas, which signified Lach, and raised $4500. This was included in the total CB4BC tally of over $560k which will be put directly into brain cancer research.
“These funds raised are enough to fund two major projects within the Brain Cancer Centre that will help to work towards their vision, which was such an achievement.”
The Public Diagnosis campaign advertisement featuring Ms Stephenson will be aired on channels seven, nine and 10 on free-to-air television and has been shared on Facebook and Instagram.
Ms Stephenson said she had spoken to many people who have seen the television advertisement.
“The general consensus from those who have seen the ad is that they think it is raw, but something that had to been done,” she said.
“It is powerful, emotional, beautiful, moving, heartwarming and one really pulls on your heart strings.
“People need a tissue to watch.”
The film is also on the homepages of the Brain Cancer Centre and Carrie’s Beanies 4 Brain Cancer websites at thebraincancercentre.com, and carriesbeanies4braincancer.com.
The ad will also feature in cinemas and on national radio.
